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**Hydro** · April 30, 2004, 20:24

The Hive, MY 2102

Unity Security Chief Yang watched the junior officer leave his pressure tent. It was an easy thing to instill fear in an undisciplined mind. All one had to do is identify the source of an opponent’s fear, and then magnify that fear as it is present in a given situation. In this case the fear was a real one: survival on an alien planet. There were a myriad of ways to die on Chiron, and a few unlucky or unobservant people had demonstrated a few of them in the last year.

His latest supplicant, Lieutenant Wills, was certainly intelligent and good at his engineering craft. He did not, however, have a vision appropriate for their situation. Redirecting his wayward energies from complaining about protocol and the ‘UN Charter’ to more practical matters, like nitrogen scrubbers that need servicing and redesign, had worked once again.

Sheng-Ji sat down to resume his work. Sitting cross-legged on his woven mat, closed his eyes, and imposed a stillness on his body. The events of the day, and then the week, coalesced. Yang forced them into his order, reducing and eliminating the distracting or irrelevant and focusing of those that had bearing on their survival, and on his vision. Although Unity had been a disaster it was also an opportunity. Flawed and outdated frames of thought would be weakened, and then discarded.

Indeed, the process of winnowing out the weak had already begun.

*~*~*~*

Command center, SPARTA COMMAND – SPARTA 2102

“HIT IT HARDER!” Santiago roared at that soldier who was punching the workout bag.

The soldier wiped her brow with the back of her gloved fist and then proceeded with another volley of punches. Santiago watched for a few minutes more making sure she would continue to put all of his effort into it.

Around the room more soldiers, all women, were either exercising on very pieces of equipment or shadow boxing in the crude ring they had built. It had become very clear almost immediately after landing that someone had really screwed up another part of the colony landing pods cargo, namely people. Upon landing Delegate Johnson had ordered an inventory of all of the cryo-tanks and it turned out that nearly 73% had women colonists. After crosschecking the colonists with their job assignments another major screw-up was discovered that nearly every male colonist was an expert in engineering or a mechanic or a technician. With the ration of men to women being so lopsided and the fact that the male colonists all had “critical” mission skills Santiago decided that she had to make a radical change in how their colony would be organized. After the tragic “accident” of Delegate Johnson Santiago issued her first directive as the colonist’s leader: the defense force would be only composed of women.

At first some of the colonists were upset about the new arrangement but even those fools could see that women were the most “expendable” assets they had and to train the men to perform combat duties would waste valuable skills. So after a turn of choosing candidates and “weeding” out the undesirables Santiago had several hundred cadets to form her defense force. At first she thought it might be difficult training only women but she quickly discovered that an all women army seemed to take direction, training and hardships much better than a mixed or even all male army. She had already selected several candidates for leadership positions but she was still evaluating them to decide which of them would become here officer corps.

“Officer Santiago?”

Santiago turned around to face a man in green coveralls, a technician, who was holding a metal clipboard.

“Yes.” Santiago responded.

“Officer Santiago this report was just turned in from the rover scout team. They report they have just crossed the ridge line and are moving west.” The technician handed the report over to her.

Santiago quickly scanned it and handed it back with no word of thanks. The technician nodded and quickly turned and left. As she watched the man go she began to think that “Officer Santiago” really did not fit her new role. She would have to consider the possibility of adopting military protocols and tittles. So then turned back and resumed watching her cadets continue to train.

*~*~*

Fecundity Tower, MY 2103

The new First Citizen Yang stood and looked out on the sea of faces. Most were attentive and intent on what he was saying, and were trying to digest his message of duty and honor. It was simple fare meant to be digestible but all but the slowest or more obstinate receptacles. The abstinent were becoming more apparent each year as his Voice molded, cajoled, and even bribed more pliant minds. There were those who were so singularly dense that the message of a higher purpose simply did not sink in. These were the lowest rungs on society’s ladder; his model of humanity’s future did not bother with egalitarian baggage – there were those who fit or were forced into the lowest order of to social contract. Many were most content on that lowest rung, and others needed to be placed there since, in any other position, they endangered the incremental improvement of the whole.

These ‘others’ were the true focus of the First Citizen’s desire, since the others were also the most powerful minds and those with the greatest talents. It would take every effort to win them over, body and soul, to the cause of uplifting humanity and reforming it to a higher purpose. Adding these recalcitrants would require a great expenditure of energy but, in the end, it would be worth it. For, within these ranks of the driven and intelligent disaffected, were the true leaders of the future. Guidance did not come from the meek and compliant, but from those who were insightful enough to build and add to the whole. The key was knowing when and where to prune their efforts, and even, if necessary, girdle the tree.

That had already been done, and more than once. The ever adamant Lieutenant Wills had been liquidated almost a month ago in an ‘accident’. He had been a prime candidate for the inner circle, possessing both the drive, intelligence, charisma, and experience to be a worthy addition. But he had refused to budge on one key item that spoke to his character, and inability to be crafted: the UN Charter. This he held to be the bible of all societies, and he had long since been a serious impediment to Yang. He had been openly courted for a year, then put in the equivalent of the penalty box, a place of hard labor where one had time to reflect while performing exhausting tasks, but no time to get into trouble. Even that had failed.

The pre-determined end of his speech was drawing to a close. It was an easy thing to sway the multitudes. It was the talents that always caused the most trouble, and had the most promise.

*~*~*~*

Colony pod alpha-1, 2-sectors southwest of Sparta Command, SPARTA 2103

“What do you think Governor-General?”

Governor Mia Tam took another look at the geological survey before she answered. The survey report was promising and they could reach the spot next turn and then have the colony up and running the following turn. Adjacent to the site was a large mineral deposit that would be easy to mine. In addition, the site was only three sectors away from Sparta Command so any assistance in the form of military or economic would be quick in arrival.

“I think it is an excellent site Senior Technician Roberts. I will inform the Colonel of my decision but I am sure she will agree with my assessment. The site offers more than we could have hoped for. I will also contact the myrmidon rover captain to converge on that area so that they can scout the entire area around the base site.” Tam said as she folded the report and handed it back to Roberts who took it and then walked back to the small pressure tent the technicians used for their office.

Tam watched the man walk back to the tent and then open the door seal and then go inside before she began walking back to the colony pod and her command “office” which also served as her quarters and conference room until they could unload the colony pod and began to set-up the base. As she walked towards the colony pod her thoughts went back to the meeting she had with Officer Santiago or as she called herself now “Colonel Santiago”. Santiago had called her over the vid-phone and informed her that she was now the “Governor-General” and leader of the colony mission. She was tasked with getting the colony pod to a site and then getting it into operation and after that she would be in charge and that she would report back to Santiago only. It had been something of shock to the small team of leaders that had been chosen by Delegate Johnson that they were no longer in charge. In particular Senior Technician Roberts had been the logical choice, even in Tam’s eyes to become the colony leader. On earth Roberts had been a senior geologist for many years for the United Nations and later had become one of the United Nations premier scientists who had advocated for the Unity Project. Now under the new “regime” as many called it now Roberts was classified as a critical operations specialist and as such he needed to concentrate on his area of expertise, geology and not administration.

As Tam opened the hatch on the colony pod module and stepped into the airlock she wondered how the men really felt about their new “status”. For some they were just glad to be alive. For others who were still in cryo-sleep she was sure it would be a shock to say the least. Tam wondered if the female technicians and scientists were troubled at all at the seemingly “overnight” elevation in status they enjoyed among their peers. For some the adoption of the “Spartan code” as the means to achieve survival had little effect on their daily lives and for others it meant a wholesale change. As the green light blinked “on” indicating that the inner door was safe to open she wondered if this was really the best course of action to take but then only history will be able to judge that.

*~*~*~*

The Hive, MY 2104

Persuasion is a subtle thing, and it can begin with a name. Resistance had been fierce to the formation of the Party Designate, a functionary whose primary role had been to explain and, if necessary, enforce the directives of the Leadership on the workers. There had been a few minor demonstrations and a few episodes of recalcitrant workers, but nothing that had significantly slowed production of the two colony pods – the genesis of Yang’s vision to double their holdings on Chiron. Minor though they may be, they were still unacceptable, evidence of a discipline that had not yet permeated all of the echelons of their evolving society.

There were two options: force and argumentation. Force had been used both in secret and, where necessary, openly on a few occasions. On others soft or hard persuasion had been used. In this case the workers were demanding representation, harkening back to the moral and legal codes now long dead with earth. Those few, even after the chaos and disaster of Unity, failed to realize this, holding to their ideals with a tenacity that Yang admired. Still, that tenacity was now an obstacle and needed to be redirected.

During his last meditation this had been the primary focus. While his body engaged in a series of extensions and stretches so too did Yang’s mind, which he never allowed to be idle. How would it be best to give these errant workers a new focus? What were their motivations? Few humans ventured beyond the surface meanings of any given concept, and this was undoubtedly true with representative government, Yang realized. This could be more than useful.

If the drones needed the edifice of representative government then they would have it: The Party Delegate would be renamed the People’s Representative. His duties would remain the same, even if the new moniker was now a prime example of doublethink. It would satisfy most of the less than attentive troublemakers, cow a few others, and confuse the rest. Those that truly understood would take this as a warning it actually was.

At that Yang smiled. Yes. It would be a test, and this test would identify the minds that were sufficiently pliant and intelligent for inclusion in the administration of the expanding society.

*~*~*~*

Command center, Sparta Command – SPARTA 2104

Colonel Corazon Santiago watched from a discreet distance as the technicians, all male, continued to work on the colony pod rover. It was taking longer than expected but the simple fact was that even if it was built tomorrow there would not be enough colonists to staff it let alone provide security for it.

“Colonel?”

Santiago turned slightly as her aide-de-camp Captain Ailes stood at attention.

“Yes Captain Ailes?” Santiago replied as she turned to face her young aide. Ailes was the best choice for her aide. She had a near photographic memory and more importantly she was completely devoted to Santiago’s plan from the start in having women and women only to fill the ranks of the military. “What can I do for you.”

“Colonel the latest report from Governor-General Tam. She reports the pod as reached the colony site and they will begin immediately to begin construction. She is requesting more support from us though.” Ailes handed her a small piece of paper, a precious commodity these days, to Santiago.

Santiago quickly reviewed the list and then handed it back. “Contact the Governor-General and inform her that the list is under review.”

“Yes Colonel. Also, the meeting you asked for is set for later tomorrow. The people you requested will all be in attendance.”

“Thank you Ailes, dismissed.”

Ailes saluted and then turned to leave.

Santiago wondered if it really was the right time to establish a “command staff” but Ailes could simply not handle all of the details. Also, the male technicians and workers wanted more of a “voice” in decisions so she had agreed to have a “technical” staff member as well. Well, perhaps it would not be such a bad idea she thought. If she could turn over some of the day-to-day management of Sparta Command it would give her more time to train the new recruits.

Santiago turned back to watch the workers again and she wondered deep down if they were truly happy in their new role. Many of them did understand the need to make sure the remaining “breeding” stock of males remain safe but perhaps in time they would resent the changes she had made. Well as she thought only time would tell.

*~*~*~*

The Hive, MY 2105

“It is a risk, First Citizen,” Maon Shirn stated. “We are on a largely unknown and alien planet, with a potentially hostile ecology. Even the very air that sustains us can kill the unwary. Sending all the base garrisons to explore may yield valuable information, but the risk is unknown.” The he added after a pause, “Sir.”

The First Citizen gazed straight a head, then he turned toward his guest. “Your point is well taken. Are these your opinions, or those of those you represent, People’s Representative Shirn?”

He replied with a shallow smile. “My duty to those I represent is to inform them of the decisions of the governing body, not to bring their concerns to the governing body.” His reply was immediate.

Yang said nothing and gave no direct comment. This one had passed the test. Yang continued as if he had said nothing. “I will review available data, and when prudent withdraw a garrison to The Hive. If disaster strikes we can afford to lose one base, but not two. You are dismissed, People’s Representative Shirn.”

The man was impassive at the rare communication to an underling that his views had been noted, and then approved. After an appropriate second’s hesitation he gave the First Citizen a shallow nod, turned, and left the room.

Yang followed him as he left, and had the pleasant realization that there was hope for humanity after all.

*~*~*~*

2-sectors west of Sparta Command, Sparta River Valley – SPARTA 2105

Santiago watched from a small rise as the Sparta Command garrison marched by her position. This was the first field exercise for the new myrmidons, her “loyal troops”. The army was growing and their support each and every turn grew as well. She had no doubt that over time her all female army of devoted, loyal troops would become the backbone of the greatest power on this planet. For now her myrmidons were all that stood between the great unknown of this planet and their very existence.

“Colonel a new report has just come in from the 1st scout rovers.”

Santiago turned around to face a young sergeant who was holding a sheet of paper. Santiago took the report and quickly scanned it. The news was good. The 1st scout rovers were going to reach the rendezvous spot on time. Santiago wanted as much firepower as possible when they began searching for the large object that ground radar had pint pointed a possible Unity cargo pod. The radar report could also be on of those strange alien monoliths that they had discovered just after landing.

“Thank you sergeant.” Santiago replied as she handed the report back.

The sergeant took the report and saluted and then began to leave when Santiago asked her.

“Sergeant what do you think of our chances of beating the 1st rovers to the sector?”

“Damn good Colonel!” The sergeant replied enthuesitically. “We really want to beat those rovers to the sector and I think we can do it.”

“What if we find aliens? What then?”

“We blow them to hell and back Colonel!”

“Thank you sergeant. Return to your post.”

Santiago watched the soldier leave and then returned to observing the last of the myrmidons marching past her. They would march for another 4 kilometers before bedding down for the night. In order to minimize their energy usage Santiago had ordered all troops to “double up” in their tents and to share body heat. By doing this they halved the number of portable power generators they needed to bring. At first the soldiers were not “accustomed” to sleeping naked with each other but after the first few nights the advantages of sharing body heat in the very cold nights on this planet quickly motivated everyone to see the merits of the idea. Santiago secretly hoped that by sharing tents would create an even tighter bond among her troops. History had shown that the best soldiers fought not for their country but for each other. That desperation, that determination to help your comrade survive could be the fighting “edge” they needed in combat. Only time once again would show if this would be the correct course of action or not.

**Hydro** · April 30, 2004, 20:26

The Hive, MY 2106

First Citizen Yang looked over the sensor logs. The territory immediately around the two bases was rich and fertile, but the same could not be said for the lands beyond. To the north was a strange fungus-like growth that covered entire sectors, as was also the case to the south. The scout from Fecundity Towers had some luck penetrating the mass, but most of the time they spent trying to retrace ground or having to come back to base due to a virulent malady. To the west was a sea, and to the east an arid river covered by scattered alien fungus.

It was now clear that more bases were only a partial answer to the question of expanding the Hive’s hold on this world. Prudent exploration would also be required to determine the lay of the land.

That was not the only reason. It was also more than possible that one of the other seven Unity pods had made it safely to the ground surface. With no satellite system, and no other reasonable means of communication besides short distance radio, the only answer was exploration.

Then would come a further test.

*~*~*~*

3 sectors west of Sparta Command – SPARTA 2106

“Well it’s not a Unity cargo pod that’s for sure.”

Santiago merely grunted her acknowledgment as she continued to scan the area with her binoculars. What they had hoped would be a Unity pod had turned out to be another alien monolith complex. Many of the myrmidons had taken to call them ruins since they could not find any aliens but that did not mean they were not here, somewhere, on this planet. Santiago finished her scan of the area and put the binoculars away.

“Radio all unit we move forward in combat formation. Rovers to converge from the north and tell them not to be late.” Santiago ordered as she stood up and adjusted her assault rifle so she was ready.

“Yes Colonel!” Captain Miles replied half laughing. The infantry myrmidons had reach the site a 20 minutes before the rovers. It had taken almost every once of strength the foot soldiers had but they had made it much to the chagrin of the mounted infantry myrmidons.

All around the area you could see infantry begin to move forward and from the north the faint sound of the rovers could be heard as they moved in. It took barely five minutes for the troops to reach the complex and then the officers motioned for them to stop and take up defensive positions. Santiago continued to move forward along with her elite bodyguard unit.

Santiago still could not believe that she was seeing buildings that were made by non-human hands or perhaps claws or if the barracks cartoons depicted them with tentacles. Their construction abilities were clearly beyond anything humans could have done. From what they could see all of the stone buildings had no internal structure or support so the large stone blocks were perfectly balanced to support the weight. The blocks themselves were cut with perfect precision showing no signs of saw marks or polishing. How the aliens had achieved such levels of engineering no one knew.

The small elite vanguard moved through the complex until they reached the center where a massive stone monolith stood.

“It’s just like the other site we found just south of Sparta Command.” One of Santiago’s guards commented. “How could or why would they build this place exactly like the other one?”

“Silence!” Santiago ordered. Silently she was thinking the same thing. Santiago had ordered that no one would enter the southern site so all the research they did was from at a distance. This site she wanted to explore. She continued to walk up the monolith and then stopped a foot away from it. She stood there closely examining the alien writing on the monolith and then absently brushed her hand against one portion of the monolith that had some dirt filling in some of the writings.

The second her hand touched the monolith a bright flash of light erupted from the monolith and spread out like a ring. The energy wave quickly expanded and engulfed all of the infantry and rovers in the area. The wave continued for some distance and then began to dim and then it just disappeared.

“IS EVERONE OKAY?" Santiago screamed over the intercom. She was furious with herself for activating the alien device and that her stupidity could have endangered her troops.

After a few minutes ever trooper had checked in and they were okay. In fact, they were all better than okay. Even Santiago realized that her fatigue and sore muscles were gone and she seemed full of energy and vigor.

“What do you think that was Colonel?” One of her guards asked.

“I have no idea but I intend to find out.” Santiago reached down and keyed in on her wrist pad the communication frequency for Sparta Command. “This is Colonel Santiago. I want our best team of technicians to proceed south towards the alien complex and begin a full study. Have the team leader link in with me before they leave so I can bring them up to date on what I want done.”

“YES COLONEL.” The duty officer acknowledged and the link was closed.

Santiago knew she had to find the secret to these devices. The area around the complex seemed to have exceptional nutrient growing capacity and precious minerals and metals were easily found just under the surface and they had also found uranium in abundance as well that fueled their fission reactors. She turned and marched back to the outside perimeter of the complex and mentioned for her troops to follow. It was time to return to Sparta Command as fast as possible because deep in her heart she could not believe that a race of aliens capable of building such a device would leave it unguarded.

“Lets move out!” Santiago roared.

*~*~*~*

Fecundity Tower, MY 2107

First Citizen Yang almost smiled.

“A Unity rover,” one of his aids said.

This was a statement of the obvious and needed no reply. “Our exploration will now be expedited,” Yang said. He looked over at his aid. “Inform People’s Representative Shirn that he is required to identify four volunteers to form an exploration crew, and that they will be competent to pilot, navigate, and make suitable reports on what they find. This expedition is for an in determinant length of time. No members of the crew are to have any prior relationship with each other. One is to be selected for command. That person will select a second in command; a strict hierarchy will be formed to enforce discipline during the trials they will endure.”

Yang did not need to add if his aid had comprehended his commands. After the re-assignment of his first aid to heavy labor for her lapses his aids had been most attentive. It was pleasing to Sheng-ji that a more pointed demonstration was not necessary since such a demonstration would waste valuable human capital.

“And the course, First Citizen?” Mai asked.

Yang thought for a minute, recalling the details of the area maps he had memorized. “South and east. They are to coordinate their efforts with the eastern scout unit the ensure an efficient coverage.”

Mai anticipated his pause. “Yes, First Citizen. It shall be done.”

The little man left. He did not hurry since he had not been told to. His pace was deliberate and purposeful.

Yang gave him a brief glance. Good. Very good

*~*~*~*

Sparta, MY 2107

Santiago had just arrived earlier today when she had received an urgent request for her presence at the main research laboratory at Sparta Command. The lab had a very “august” name but it was in fact a very large cargo pod that had been converted into the lab. It had been subdivided into four research sections: biological, energy, mechanical and electrical. The chief technician of the energy section had been the one who had sent the request.

Santiago entered the airlock leaving her myrmidon guards outside. Once the airlock had closed and pressurized the inside door was thrown open and a small group of men stood their with very happy expressions.

“Welcome Colonel, welcome!” Several of them said at once.

“What is so important?” She asked in a slightly irritable manner.

“Colonel please come with us and let me show you.” The senior technician said eagerly and motioned for her to follow. Santiago merely nodded and followed. Nearly all of the “technicians” were male, over 92%, so she was quickly surprised that she was slightly uncomfortable in their presence.

The lead her down the central corridor of the building and then they opened a door and motioned for her to go in. She quickly looked around at the technicians trying to find a glimpse of “guile” or “subterfuge” on their part, perhaps it was trap, but she could not see any so she went in. When she walked into the room the first thing she saw was a small tracked “sled” and mounted on top of it was a tripod and on top of that was something that could only be a weapon.

“It’s a laser canon Colonel!” The chief technician quickly reported. Several other technicians quickly scrambled around the device and one of them climbed on top.

“You see Colonel we had a breakthrough about a month ago in the energy section and we quickly developed the most logical extension of the breakthrough, a laser. It’s very powerful, over twice as powerful as our assault rifles and four times the range. The unit here is a laser canon but over on the table is an infantryman version of a laser rifle. The laser rifle is still twice as powerful but only has half the range.” The technician reported as he walked over with Santiago and began to motion to the other techs to demonstrate the weapon.

One of the techs moved behind the weapon and began to activate it and then fired a beam of white-hot energy at the far wall where it slammed into a testing wall of steel, salvaged from the Unity landing modules heat shield system. The laser instantly began to melt the special ceramic/steel alloy. The shield would have been barely scratched by their assault rifles if they had been used on it. Santiago was very impressed.

“How soon can we go into production?” She asked quickly.

“Well Colonel all of our resources and technicians are committed at both bases building the colony pods. Sparta Commands will be done in five turns and Fort Superiority’s colony pod will be done in ten turns. After that we can either begin the building the laser weapons, the command center you asked for or another colony pod.” The technician quickly reported.

Santiago merely nodded and then jumped up behind the laser canon and sighted down the weapon. She would have to consider this for a while, she had time to decide. If the aliens were out there as she suspected she would need these weapons. If the aliens were out there a command center would help coordinate, train and control their battles against the aliens. However, a colony pod would add to their resources. She would have to get the opinion of her command team on this. She then activated the laser canon again and fired it at the shield. Yes she thought her was the instrument she needed to gain the edge. Also if there were other survivors from the Unity her military superiority might convince them to join her regime, one way or another.

*~*~*~*

The Hive, MY 2108

The art of leadership is a craft requiring both patience and, when necessary, more direct methods. Patience is needed since those who you intend to lead will have some but not all of the skills and attitudes that are needed to complete their assignments. This will try the abilities of any leader, since this means the leader my also be a teacher, and instructor in how to view the world and interact with it. The gift of inspiration and instruction in the leader is critical, since with these gifts the leader can remake the subordinate in the leader’s image, if they desire, or into another form, as needed by the leader’s vision. The subordinate will learn, each at their own pace, as they gain knowledge of this vision, and perhaps even teach the teacher on an aspect of it.

The most critical decision, one that requires great self-understanding and the ability to fathom the abilities and aspirations of others, is when patience is not longer appropriate in helping a subordinate understand their place and learn their path. To err on the side of patience invites chaos and torpidity in the leader’s vision and the attainment of it, since the subordinate will not know when they have erred, meaning the lesson is unlearned and that false lessons will cloud the vision of the leader. In those cases where the subordinate has chosen to be confrontational the price of excessive patience is anarchy, as the subordinate, charged with their own vision, will add their dissident voice to the lesson, clouding it for him, those around him, and the teacher himself. Is it always clear when a lesson has not been learned, or when a subordinate student is willfully learning? No, it is not. The depth of understanding of the leader then becomes critical, for he must look into the soul of the subordinate and determine how to best proceed. In some cases, the subordinate that has not understood the lesson must have a lesson that will focus their efforts. In others the willful subordinate must have more patience so that they can truly understand, and comply with the will of the leader.

Is this counterintuitive? No, my students, it is not. It is simply the test of the leader to determine which is best for the underling, and the leader and his vision.

Sheng-ji Yang
Lecture 43, School of Literature and Military History, Beijing University

*~*~*~*~*

Private quarters of Col. Santiago, Sparta Command – SPARTA 2108

BAM!

Santiago’s fist slammed down on the desktop. She sat there for several seconds as pain surged up her arm. She was mad and she was tired. It was 1:20am and she had been reviewing the latest reports from the 1st scout rovers and the news was not good.

Corazon stood up and began to rub her hand to get the feeling back into it. She looked down and saw that her desk had a small dent in it now. Great.

She moved over to her bunk and flung herself down on it and then continued to rub her hand and arm. Stupidity. She was angrier with herself for losing her temper now than the report. If they had only had a chance to do one orbital pass before landing and they could have picked out the best landing site. But because of the accident it was all moot.

Her thoughts went back to the report again and it was clear she would have to make a decision in the morning. The rovers had moved east as ordered and crested the mountain range only to find dry and barren lands on the far side. Expanding to the east was not an option unless she planned on ordering the rovers to continue on in that direction and hopefully they would find better ground. However, time was at a premium. The next colony pod would be done in four turns and they needed a spot close by. In reality her decision was already made for her, the scouts would turn back and move north to see what was there and hopefully find better ground. To the south she knew there was better ground but she had already assigned those sectors to Governor-General Tam for her expansion. No, the way north had to be better, it must be better. She did not want to force the colonists to travel 7 o 8 sectors in hope of finding better ground.

Santiago turned over in her bunk and stopped rubbing her arm. The pain would help her focus. The scouts could quickly move west and then north using the river routes but it was crucial that they complete their survey in three turns, four at the most. Once the scouts had secured at safe and hospitable sector they would race back and then escort Fort Superiority’s colony pod. There was a timetable that had to be met, no matter the cost.

Time was against them and so was this planet it seemed. She hated the fungus and she hated Pravin Lal for leading this stupid expedition in the first place. She was going to survive and her myrmidon soldiers would survive and her people would survive even if it meant tearing from this planet or other survivors the tools, resources and technology they would need.

**Hydro** · April 30, 2004, 20:27

The Hive, MY 2109

People’s Representative Hodgesworth and his two subordinates stood at attention, waiting for the First Citizen to acknowledge them. Of course Yang knew they were there, and had been informed they were coming with critical information from the Unity pod that had just been opened. He glanced over and, nodding slightly in their direction, bade them enter.

“First Citizen,” he began, his voice neutral but failing to mask his excitement, “we have investigated the Unity pod by The Hive, as ordered. Almost all the contents were destroyed, burned and crushed beyond recognition. Everything except this!” he said, his efforts at control finally failing.

He handed Yang a portion of a control panel, which looked like it was meant for disassembly. It had a key pad, and a port for a synchronization crystal. Yang knew exactly what this was; it was his job, as Security Officer, to be intimately familiar with the working of Unity as well as its crew. It would do no good to have the crew, and its officers, controlled and focused if they could exercise their deviant wishes by utilizing a function of Unity that was beyond his grasp.

Yang put the Emergency Transceiver on his desk. There had been many of these on Unity and its landing modules. But, there had been precious few on the emergency landing pods since most were still in storage at the time of the disaster, and those that were available had either been inoperable or improperly programmed, yet another mishap in a series of missteps ever since the mission had left Earth.

This Emergency Transceiver, however, was independently powered and, most importantly, programmed! A winking green light indicated it was fully functional. All the transceivers found to date had either been dead, or with a red or yellow light indicating a hardware or software malfunction.

“Your services to our people are commendable and have been noted, citizens,” he said. He turned toward the People’s Representative. “Call a meeting of the People’s Representatives. In one hour I will make an announcement.”

Hodgesworth gave the First Citizen a shallow bow and said, “It shall be done.” Then he and his two assistants left the room.

When they were gone Yang turned toward the box and examined it for a moment. Then he activated the blinking green light and keyed in a command sequence.

And he waited.

Twenty minutes later a voice came through: “This is Officer Deirdre Skye. Who am I speaking with?”

A palpable feeling of relief washed over Yang. Another survivor of Unity! “Officer Skye, this is Commander Yang, Security. I am pleased you have survived, and wish you well. We have much to discuss…”

*~*~*~*

Exactly one hour later First Citizen Yang stood in front of the expectant crowd of People’s Representatives.

“Citizens, I am happy to inform you that we have made contact with Officer Deirdre Skye, who has survived and is doing well. After exchanging what we knew of our situation on Chiron we have decided to pool our resources, sharing to the benefit of both our peoples. In return for her files on Chiron Ecology we have yielded our knowledge of security, enriching both of us. They will now be able to use the advanced social techniques, and we will be able to construct a new device called a terraformer, which will allow us to change and mold this planet to our needs. The needs of the People will be met, and through our labors our society will prosper.

“Inform the citizens, People’s Representatives. We will now start the construction of these terraformers and complete them as soon as we have sufficient resources.”

The normally placid People’s Representatives broke into a cheer, and this time there was no rebuke from the First Citizen. In fact, the First Citizen allowed himself a smile.

*~*~*~*

Spartan battle manual “The Prologue”, Sparta Command – SPARTA 2109

I am in command and I will lead. This simple statement has been my guiding principal since we have landed on this planet. It is my intent to share my insights, training, expertise and knowledge with every Spartan citizen so that they can survive and prosper on this new world. It is now the year 2110, which marks for the end of the first decade on this world, and I hope the beginning of a greater future for us all.

In order to create this new future for all our people I have taken command and am leading. The current situation clearly dictated that a leader step forward that had the skills and abilities to secure our survival and I took up that challenge. Our current situation clearly called out for innovative applications of tried and true military strategies and disciplines to secure our survival. The weak and ineffective policies of a “civilized and advanced” Earth culture would only spell our certain doom on this planet.

After the death of Delegate Johnson the “assigned” United Nations leader for our colony pod I stepped forward to lead. One of the first decisions I made was to secure the future of our people. Through the tragic oversight of High Commissioner Lal he failed to anticipate the “possibility” of pod separation upon landing. As a result our Unity pod was over assigned female colonists. The simple facts of the situation dictated that we do all we can to preserve our male colonists genetic base so I issued orders to create an all “female” military. Our male genetic base had to be shielded from possible depletion due to accidental death or disease. Nearly all of the males in our colony pod also possessed “key” technical skills that were required to secure our survival. The creation of the “myrmidons” or “loyal army” was my idea and my idea alone. I also feel that an all female military force will create the same intense levels of discipline, loyalty and bravery, as did the Spartan armies of old. Once again, I looked back at history and adapted “tried and true” military doctrine to fit our needs.

It is my hope that as I add to this “battle manual” that all Spartans will learn the key skills and disciplines needed to survive on this planet. My Spartans and I will survive on this planet despite the numerous United Nations errors that created this fiasco in the first place. As part of my greater plan I am issuing my first “general order #1” and that is: Our Spartan survival is first and foremost. Everything that is NOT Spartan should be made Spartan if it adds to our survival. We will take what is ours by right of might to secure our survival and that of humanity. I expect every Spartan from small child to elder to engrave this principal into his/her heart and act accordingly.

Lastly, I want to address the issue of the alien question. It is clear that we are “not alone” on this planet. At some time either in the past or in the present an alien civilization thrived on this planet. As of this date we still have not seen any aliens. It is also clear that the “native” population of this planet has or has access to at one point advanced engineering science. The question before us Spartans is one of accommodation or extermination. I have decided the latter. We will exterminate the “native” presence in order to secure a prosperous and thriving human/Spartan civilization. I will give not expect to receive nor will I give any “quarter” should we encounter any aliens and in accordance with this I am issuing my second general order: All aliens are to be treated as enemies of the Spartan state and should be exterminated on site. I think this clearly explains the importance I have assigned to this issue. This planet is now ours.

In closing I fully expect that the military hierarchy and systems I have instituted will be difficult for some to adjust to but in time as we begin to reap the bounty that our discipline our bravery generate it will be easy to see the wisdom of my decision. These last 10 turns have been one of challenge and hardships and I do not expect it to get any easier as we meet new tasks, obstacles and challenges. But what I do expect to see is the accumulation of power that will secure our survival and domination of this planet. Some have remarked that this new world is our new “hell”. If this is the case then I believe it is better to rule in hell than to serve in heaven. With the strength of a powerful Sparta we will forge a heaven from hell on this planet and build a new world based on the principles of strength, order, loyalty, comradeship and most importantly discipline. Discipline is our key and the means to generate our eventual victory over this planet and any who will not submit to us will fall before our might, Sparta will prevail!

Colonel Corazon Santiago,

Supreme Commander of the Spartan Federation

*~*~*~*

Fecundity Towers, MY 2110

First Citizen Yang looked up at the alien building. It was reddish ochre in color, and stood at 30 meters tall, and resembled more than anything else an ancient Egyptian obelisk. It sat on a raised platform that was covered on one side by soil, and the best seismic tests indicated the foundation went down to and then into bedrock, which in this area was over 85 meters below ground surface. Curious branches of the obelisk branched out underground in an odd fractal pattern. Above the ground surface the walls tapered slightly, and then 3 meters below the top abruptly came together in a point. That, more than anything else, gave the obelisk its distinctive appearance.

There were other features that defied accurate description. The most obvious was the deeply incised writing that covered much of the exterior. That, in itself, wasn’t odd – obelisks had been used as methods for memorializing significant events throughout human history. What was truly baffling is that the language changed, and the pictoforms were always mutating. They didn’t seem to change when being observed, yet they did change.

Then there was the curious effect it had on the immediate surroundings. The ground in the immediate vicinity was virulently fertile, and anything planted there or livestock raised in the area grew at a pace that was, by all the laws of biology, impossible. This effect had been noticed in humans, too: the frailties of age seemed to lessen, time reversing itself; wounds healed as the amazed person watched; old scars and even organs grew back of their own accord. Even material devices were effected, with rents in manufactured surfaces sometimes knitting themselves together, and even complicated electronics re-orienting themselves, sometimes in ways outside of their original design and causing them to function in a wholly different way.

It would take years, or decades, to fathom the depths of this alien device. For the time being, though, it was providing Fecundity Tower with health, vitality, and prosperity, with its people much more productive than they had any right to be.

Yes, Yang thought as he adjusted his breather, the practical outweighs the theoretical.

He paused, looking up at the device, and a feeling of wonder filled his mind.

For now…

*~*~*~*

Three sectors northeast of Sparta Command – SPARTA 2110

“Do you think the Colonel will like it?”

“You are kidding right?”

Both women laughed as they walked down to the river. The scouting mission was a complete success and the colony site was more than they could have hoped for. They both stood there by the river and looked north as the great water falls crashed down on the rocks below. The site would provide ample food and hydroelectric power to the colony. In addition, by using the river valley to aid the colonists travel time they colony pod and team would make excellent time.

“Do we get to go back now?”

“No. Captain Iverson said that our unit had to move west to scout out that area. Then we would work our way back south towards Ft. Superiority.”

“****.”

Both of them understood that they would be gone for a long, long time. Just then a sound could be heard from behind them and they both quickly turned around to see other cavalry vehicles approaching.

“Well, time to go I suppose.”

“Yep.”

They both looked at each other for a few minutes more and then let go of their hands and began to walk back. Both of them were still amazed that they even through all this hardship and strain they had found love.

*~*~*~*

The Hive, MY 2111

First Citizen Yang stood in the feeding den and looked over the assembled People’s Representatives.

“Today is a singular achievement for the People. With the completion of these two terraformers we will bend this planet to our will, to the will of the people. It will be made to serve us, yielding what we need and required to fulfill our destiny. Our toil and labors will be amply repaid. The Citizens who crew these mighty works of The Hive will build roads, farms and forests. In years to come they will build vast fields of machines to harvest the bounty of our new sun, and it will yield to us the energy that was before wasted. New sites will be prepared for new warrens for our progeny, who will be the inheritors of all that we labor for today. This future is humanity’s future, a goal for us to work and strive toward. We shall abandon the failed promises and corruptions of the past. Discarded, they will be mere shadows of the works we will build, and aspirations that will be made real.

“For us these terraformers are the result of a decade of work and ingenuity. For we, the pioneers, started with nothing. To our children they will be mere toys, and they will look back at our labors not with contempt, but with envy. For these works were the start. These works were the bright beginning.”

Yang paused, gauging the throng in front of him. Inwardly he was pleased.

“Go now. Tell your Citizens of their great achievement. Let them glory in this accomplishment.”

With that he stood down. There was no applause, no outward sign of pleasure. Yet, Yang knew it was there.

*~*~*~*

Sparta War Journal Chapter 2 “Procreation & Survival” – SPARTA 2111

Sparta must thrive and prosper! This simple yet painfully obvious statement is at the very heart of all my decisions. We Spartans are faced with a great challenge: how do we prosper as a society? Due to the unfortunate planning by Pravin Lal and his inept administrators our colony pod had barely 486 males and 1,514 females. Of those 1,514 females nearly 300 hundred are serving as Myrmidon soldiers. The simple reality of the problem is staggering. If I were to allow “conventional” parings, ie… man and wife relationships our genetic based would be severely limited if not potentially harmful to society.

With this cruel reality facing us I issued General Order #3. General Order #3 outlawed conventional marriages and thus eliminated the possibility of damaging our genetic base. In addition the directive ordered each male to mate with 3 different females in order to increase the genetic base. For many Spartans still “attached” to old Earth morals and sensibilities this order was perceived as an attack. It was not meant to be but the end result has to be multiple genetic parings in order to preserve the human race. I have abolished marriage in order to preserve humanity. The ultimate good of this will be clearly understood by our descendents.

Lastly as part of General Order #3 all children from such pairings are to be turned over the state as the responsible entity for nurturing and growth of said child. Each child will be assigned a “pack” and each “pack” will have a “pack leader”. Each “pack” will consist of 10 children and a pack leader. Five “packs” will create a “squad” and four “squads” will create a “phalanx”. In the following pages you will review the instructions, methods and procedures to raise a child within the Spartan system. Children will be assigned a “pack” as soon as they are “weaned” from their birth mothers. They will remain in their pacts and receive instruction in math, reading, military philosophy and doctrine, science and history. As the child grows older each “pack” will be assigned more advanced training such as: military studies, manufacturing and support, science and research and lastly, leadership. It is my contention that any child can achieve anything he/she wishes to if they receive the proper instruction. In addition, all “packs” will be sexually segregated but no task will be assigned to any group based on sex. The only exception I will make to this rule is that male “packs” will be denied access to military studies. When our society reaches a point where our genetic base is sufficiently diverse and our population more balanced between males and females I will lift this restriction. Until then no male can serve as a myrmidon soldier.

This new world is a harsh and unforgiving place to live but we Spartans will prevail and prosper. We must stripe away all of our old morals and beliefs and fully accept that our life on this planet demands that we grow. In order to grow we must accept the eventual idea that we will no longer be people of Earth with a history and a culture to be a guide for our lives. Within a hundred turns every Spartan will have fully stripped away their old lives and beliefs and will have become a Spartan in thought, word and deed.

*~*~*~*

The Hive, MY 2112

First Citizen Yang read the report again, carefully, to ensure he had not missed anything critical.

He had not.

Finally, he commented to the waiting People’s Science Advisor, “The alien life forms are colonies of worm-shaped entities, a collective. Individually they are potentially lethal to humans and other fauna, and they possess a greater power when combined. They have, to date, been found in the xenofungus fields that cover most of Chiron and seem to be part of that habitat. When combined, forming a boil, their internal chemistry changes, giving them a catalyst-like ability to strike out at other organized beings. This energy is either released in the attack, or a portion of it remains if the attack fails or they are attacked; this energy is then recoverable and usable by humans.”

Science Advisor Scott Simon, formerly Life Sciences, Second Grade, of the Unity mission, replied, “Yes, First Citizen. Your summary is correct. To date we have collected remains of two boils, and each has contained the resources specified in the report. This has greatly augmented our resource base, and we recommend that the xenofungus in the area be thoroughly explored to recover as many of these energy boil remains as possible.”

“Are there risks?” Yang asked. He knew the answer.

“Yes, First Citizen. If the explorer attacks then he is likely to prevail in the encounter. If, when in the fungus, he is attacked at unawares it will almost assuredly mean their destruction. Even after almost 12 years of study we know very little about the xenofungus, except that it contains great danger, and also promise.”

Yang nodded ever so slightly. This was the answer he had been expecting, if this Science Advisor was to retain his post.

“The risk is acceptable for the good of the People,” Yang said as he authorized the further exploration of the fungus. He handed it to the People’s Science Advisor. “Work with the Base Industrial Collective Authority to determine if additional scout teams can be constructed and deployed without disruption expansion plans. Dismissed.”

**Hydro** · April 30, 2004, 20:30

Four sectors northeast of Sparta Command – SPARTA 2112

“WHAT IN THE H*LL IS THAT!”

“Rover-9, rover-9, this is rover-1! I need for you to calm down and give me a sitrep!” Captain Wills sternly commanded.

“Rover-1 this is rover-9. I have just encountered an alien life form. It is blocking my advance. I am 2-klicks south of your position, vector-12. The alien is moving slowly and from what I can tell it is alone. It is about 4 meters tall. It has tentacles or something like tentacles on the top of its cylinder shaped body. I can only assume the thousands of tendrils at its base is how it moves about. It did “shoot” some type of substance at us but our rover was able to get out of the way.” The slightly rattled rover team leader replied.

“Confirmed.” Captain Wills flipped a few switches in front of her on the dashboard. “All rovers this is rover-1. You are ordered to converge on rover-9 and attack the creature. Begin your attacks in echelon right formations.” Wills leaned forward again and closed the channel and then turned to her driver and gunner. “Okay lets go and lock and load.”

Within a few minutes all of the rovers began to crest the hill to the south where they saw the alien creature. Almost immediately the lead rover moved forward and the gunner began to fire into the creature. As they closed they began to veer right as another rover made an attack run. By the time the fourth rover had passed the creature had collapsed and was withering. By the time the last rover had made its battle pass the creature had been blasted apart into small piles of jelly like substance. In the place it had once “stood” several orb like objects seem to pulse and glow.

“All rovers cease your attack!” Captain Wills commanded as she flipped channels again. “Sparta Command this is Captain Wills, 1st scout cavalry. I want to submit an after action report for Colonel Santiago. Inform the Colonel that there are aliens!”

Several days later at Sparta Command

“Do we have any idea of it had “human like” intelligence?”

“No Colonel we do not. The remains that the 1st scout cavalry found did not seem to indicate any “human like” brain cells or matter that we would consider necessary for higher forms of intelligence. However, these nodules that they found resemble portable power generators. They gave of heat that we can convert into energy. It is possible that the orbs themselves are part of the intelligence.” The lead biologist commented as he handed Santiago a report.

“Bottom line it for me Doctor.”
“Colonel I have no idea what this creature was. It is that simple. It could have been one of the creatures that built the monoliths or it could have been an “animal” or even one of the alien’s soldiers for all we know. I have added several recommendations for your review the next time we encounter them.” The scientist replied hopefully. The entire team of biologists was eagerly waiting the samples and all hoped to actually capture one of them.

“Doctor any time we encounter these creatures I expect to meet them the same way we just did with hot steel and iron courage. The thing tried to attack and it was destroyed that’s all the information I really need at this point.”

Santiago turned and left the room knowing she would never come back to this room again. It was very simple for her. These creatures had to die.

*~*~*~*

The Hive, MY 2113

It was not clear that this infant society was a prototype of the eventual whole. The reports of the population demographics were encouraging, but they did have some seeds that caused grave concern. Fecundity Tower had almost had a riot in the past week when its garrison had left to explore the fungus to the south. Fortunately it was not far from base when the Base Manager called with an urgent directive to return to base immediately. By the time they returned the riots had ceased; none wanted to face the wrath of the garrison, who had had to prove their loyalty to The Hive several times since landing.

This would clearly limit exploration. But, Yang reflected, this might be a blessing in disguise. Now that defenders were essential there would be no chance of the base being under defended when one of the hostile alien life forms attacked. Yes, it was not a matter of if, but when the native life forms attacked one of the two warrens. What other defense might be erected? On this point the People’s Science Advisor had no answer, even when questioned under duress. Not physical duress – that would be counterproductive. Pressure had been applied and the results had been as expected. He had not elaborated beyond what was prudent to give him the answers he wanted. That was good. False data would lead to critical errors in judgment, the most serious of which was self-delusion.

The Citizens’ leaders would have to make clear, rational decisions or they would suffer. Without effective leadership this necessary effort may founder, and that was unacceptable.

*~*~*~*

Primary medical center, delivery room, Sparta Command – SPARTA 2113

“One last pushes Corazon.” The doctor urged.

Corazon Santiago, supreme leader of the Spartan Federation, was moments away from giving birth. It had been a long 14 hours and now the end was in sight. What made it all the more difficult was that she was having twins.

“Push NOW!” The doctor ordered.

Corazon gripped the rails and squeezed with all of her remaining strength and she could now feel the babies moving through her. The pain was almost unbearable and the little amount of pain medication that they could spare for any birth was almost worn off.

“Okay Corazon we have the first one and now one more big push!”

She struggled to breath but she gripped the rails once again and pushed with the last ounce of strength she had.

“That’s it! We have both of them, a girl and a boy.” The doctor reported.

Corazon could hardly breath when she heard the words. A nurse had at last given her some water to drink and someone else had wiped her forehead free of sweat. At first she felt fine but her strength seemed to be fading still.

“Doctor let me see them.” Corazon ordered with a gasp of air.

Two nurses quickly maneuvered the babies around so she could see them. The boy was very frail looking, the weaker of the two twins but the girl looked strong and big. Her first child had died during delivery and she had not expected to be able to have anymore so it was a shock to find out not only was she pregnant but with twins.

“Doctor the patients blood pressure is dropping and respiration is falling as well.” A nurse quickly reported with great urgency.

“Okay I think we need to get in there and see what happened. Remove the babies and put the Colonel under. I was afraid of this but I hoped for the best. Ready the instruments to due a full hysterectomy. I suspect we will have to remove the entire uterus. The strain of having twins has caused the walls of the uterus to tear. They were too weak before from the first miscarriage. Alright people lets move!” The doctor quickly moved to give room to the nurses as he began to put on new gloves.

Nurses began to surge around Corazon but all she could see was her children being whisked away. She would have them a short time but they would become the future of not only Sparta but also leaders on this planet. She would make sure of that.

“Okay, is she under yet?” The doctor asked and it was the last thing Corazon heard.

*~*~*~*

The Hive, MY 2114

“Lieutenant Commander Skye,” Yang said, “how may I be of service?”

The communication channel fluxed and static filled the line, almost obscuring Deirdre Skye’s image.

“I would like to exchange information,” she said, “for the good of both of our peoples.”

“A worthy goal,” Yang said. He ensured that his voice and mannerisms were noncommittal. “What do you propose?”

Deirdre paused for a moment. “We have collected a large amount of data on our surroundings. Everything we can learn about Planet is of value. I would like to trade this information for technical files that you may have.”

Yang didn’t hesitate. “In the spirit of cooperation, I agree. Transmit your files as your soonest opportunity. Our technical files will be arriving shortly. Assign a subordinate to be responsible for ensuring the files are properly received.”

Dee’s face, which had been somewhat drawn, lit up into a smile. “That will be a great help, Sheng-ji. Very generous.” Deirdre paused for a moment. “I think we should go share more of our information on a regular basis. You’ve shown trust in us, perhaps we could return the favor and offer a pact to defend each other, as best we can, and exchange map files on a regular basis?”

Yang nodded. “I agree, Lieutenant Commander. Together we will be stronger than apart. Both our peoples will benefit.”

“Thank you, Sheng-ji. The thermosphere bounce will cease in less than a minute. Call when you can. Dee, out.”

*!~*~*~*

Spartan Battle Manual, Chapter two “On war and diplomacy” – SPARTA 2114

General Von Clauswitz said, “War is just an extension of diplomacy”. I disagree. War is diplomacy, it is change, it is the fuel by which all social, economic and political order occurs. I use the term “war” to include all forms of physical violence and force. All one has to do is look back through history to see that every major change in our world is the result of war. From the first primitive man fighting with lions for dominance on the African plains to our current situation here.

Our challenge before us today is to encompass this reality and make it our reality. By preparing, training and working at all times to hone our skills and discipline to meet our enemies on the battlefield we will prevail.

It is clear to me today that we must always exert the maximum amount of force possible in every conflict to achieve overwhelming superiority. There will never be an instance in our future we will project a “measured and appropriate” response. Simply put if we are pushed we will bulldozer you back! If our enemies know that they will suffer the full wrath of our power if they wish to test us then they will only do so if they sense if we are weak. Weakness in any form cannot be tolerated. If we are weak our enemies will sense it and strike at our heart. We must always be vigilant and prepared for attack and when that attack comes we must meet that force with overwhelming force.

Our society must always be vigilant for the weak that might sap our strength. Our task before us today is simple: we are only as strong as our weakest link and the weak link must be removed. In all aspects we must look to ourselves to focus our efforts to expunge our cancers, our frailties our weakness in order to build a better, stronger world. When we meet strong and powerful forces we will measure their discipline and conviction and if they merit worth then we might be able to make allies of them. However, on the other hand if they are weak and pitiful then their resources and material and people and technology must be melded into our society by force of will and of arms.

I wish to be clear on this issue and this issue in particular and that is this, Sparta will prevail and it will take whatever it needs to build a stronger and dominant force. We will achieve this through war!

*~*~*~*

The Hive, MY 2115

First Citizen Yang and his entourage of selected People’s Representatives walked through the newly planted forest. It was still very young, and many of its trees were no higher than two meters. Others were well over four meters tall, which was astounding even considering the trees were four years old, at most. The trees were primarily spruce with a scattering of others in test plots, some failed experiments and others doing just as well as the spruce. At the time of planting three years ago a decision had been made based on the best available data, and a northern European hybrid had been selected. It had interesting properties since it was designed to withstand the hotter and drying summers that northern Europe was receiving at the time, and the pests that came with it. This particular variety had a copious and pungent sap, which would have many uses.

As they walked the various Representatives made discrete but pointed comments, all cogent and sometimes even insightful. All, of course, were directed at Yang in an effort to demonstrate their superior competence. Two Representatives, who clearly thought very little of each other and were barely able to hide their animosity from the First Citizen, were even jockeying for the position three people behind Yang.

Sheng-ji was aloof. It was useful to observe everything around, sorting out the different impulses and evaluating, always evaluating. The prattle of the Representatives was entered as data and may be useful at a future time to evaluate their competence, likely success in a new role, or culling. That, of course, was a last resort, but it would be done if needed.

*~*~*~*

Command Center, Sparta Command – SPARTA 2115

Santiago waited patiently, a virtue she was trying of late to work on, as the last command staff officer sat down.

“First let me remind each and everyone one of that the responsibility that I have give to you is crucial to our survival.” Santiago turned slightly to her right where a very attractive young women who had blond hair and blue eyes. In almost every aspect she was the opposite of Corazon Santiago. “Major Cynthia West has accepted her new role as my second in command and will be in charge of our G-1 section, operations. She will be responsible for all administrative operations and coordinating your work.”

“Thank you Colonel for your trust.” Major West added.

“You earned my trust Major but you still have to prove that you can do the job. Now as for the rest of you.” Santiago pointed towards a tall and lanky looking woman with red hair and green eyes. “Captain Natasha Alexandrovna will be our G-2 section, training and operations.” Santiago then pointed towards a heavy set muscular women with black hair and black eyes. “Captain Jamie Clinton will head up our G-3 section, intelligence.” Santiago then pointed towards a buxom blond woman with blue eyes and a very beautiful face. “Captain Jenna Michaels will be our G-4 section leader. Her job will be to keep logistics and supplies flowing.”

Santiago then turned to her left and motioned towards a medium-aged woman, perhaps her mid to late forties, she had mousey brown hair and a plain face. “This is Captain Jocelyn Smith. Captain Smith is my field operations commander and will be responsible for leading all military field units when I am not in direct command.” Next Santiago pointed towards a man sitting to Captain Smith’s right. “Master Technician Albert Smith is my choice to head up the technical divisions that make up the support staff. It will be his responsibility to coordinate research and production.” Santiago then pointed towards a middle-aged woman with brown hair who had stern face. “I am sure you all know Governor-General “I am sure you all know Governor-General Karen Walker. I have asked Governor-General Walker to be the liaison between the leaders of each base and this command council. I have decided to allow the Governor-Generals more latitude in the administration and governance of their bases. Each Governor-General will coordinate production, resource management and research with this command staff but the day to day details will be handled by them” Lastly Santiago pointed towards a very attractive and young oriental woman who was seated at the left end of the table. “This is Commandant Gig-Ta Fong. Captain Fong is my choice to head up the child development program. She is also the military commander of our youth training program.”

“Now after today’s meeting Major West will be working with each of you on issues and problems. I expect that we will meet weekly and as needed subject to any emergencies.” Santiago stopped talking as she motioned for them to open their briefing books. “We have two issues we have to deal with today. First the selection of our fourth colony site. There are two likely spots: sector 93-31 or 96-22. We need to make a decision today so that the new Governor-General knows how much supplies to pack. Secondly and perhaps more importantly is the situation with the 1st and I suppose I have to say the 2nd scout cavalry. The 1st scout cavalry found an alien device and when they activated it an energy wave erupted from it, engulfing the entire team. When it was done it had “duplicated” then entire 1st scout cavalry down to the moles on the faces. What was even more disturbing was the fact that they even had all of the memories and feelings of the originals. We will go into this in more depth but if we are dealing with a civilization that can simply “photo-copy” it soldiers to create new ones then we are dealing with a technology so far beyond our own that it makes us look like ants. I will want recommendations from each of you as to how you see this development and our options.”

Santiago stopped and looked around the room, as everyone was quickly writing down what she said. She had assembled the best people she could find and now she hoped it would be enough.

*~*~*~*

The Hive, MY 2116

Yang looked over the latest reports. With two forests the resource base had increased markedly. Growth had been sacrificed, but the net increase in resources was worth the sacrifice. The forests were remarkably productive considering the relative dearth of food, minerals, and energy available from the alien lands. Perhaps it was a lucky thing that there were resources at all, and that any part of this ecosystem was compatible with human biology. Still, it would be a good thing when the lands could be bent to human uses.

Now the key would be to expand their resource base, and that required more bases to be built. By the time the new colony pods were built there would be a few roads to the now colony sites, and that would speed their setup immensely. Having the slow, ponderous assemblage of vehicles and people travel over an open terrain was inefficient, and wasteful. And, the faster they got to their colonization site the faster they could begin resource collection, and human propagation.

Indeed, on this world people meant resources. Back on earth there were too many people, and countries that did not watch out for their growth levels were always wracked with poverty and instability. That would not be true on Chiron for a very long time. If all eight of the Unity landing pods made it, and so far only two had, then there would be 16,000 people total. Of those, there were only four thousand that were known to have survived. With those starting levels it would take a very long time to come close to having the problems of earth. In fact, with proper control those problems could be eliminated.

As always, the key was control and discipline. On earth those lessons had been lost under the guise of human rights and the chimera of democracy. But, what use are those if it results in the extinction of humanity? Hence, the failure on earth, and Unity. Those mistakes would not be repeated.

**Hydro** · April 30, 2004, 20:32

Spartan Battle Manual, Chapter three “On tactics of war” – SPARTA 2116

I want to make one thing perfectly clear to every Spartan that reads the following words that I mean each and every one of them. I have only one battle order that must always be followed: advance and attack!

This will perhaps be the shortest chapter in this manual. Throughout history thousands of generals have written elaborate and extensive works on war and let me say they are all crap. Every decision on the battlefield can be distilled down to the one of two choices: attack or retreat. The simple reality of the situation, any battlefield situation, is that there is a victor and the defeated. I have no intention of ever allowing Sparta to become the loser on the field of blood and struggle.

So every battle commander in the Myrmidon forces should always attack. It is my only standing battle order and it should be engraved in the very soul of every Spartan. Attack and attack should be the only clear choice. Move forward, take the front line, assume the vanguard, and never stop always attack.

So should any battle commander ever stop, ever “regroup” I will have the son of a ***** shot on the spot.

*~*~*~*

The Hive, MY 2117

“What is the goal of every good Citizen?” the young man asked.

“To serve society,” the children answered in unison.

“Very good,” the teacher said, smiling. “And how to you accomplish this goal?”

Many hands shot up. “May, you many answer.”

“By serving mommy!” she answered with unveiled enthusiasm.

The teacher frowned. “No, May. That is not correct.” Little May seemed to shrink at the rebuke. More hands shot up. “Sanchez?”

“We serve the First Citizen!” he almost yelled.

Now the teacher smiled. “That is correct! Well done, Sanchez! The First Citizen is wise, wiser than any of us can ever understand. He led us to safety when the great ship from earth crashed. Without him all of us, your mommies and daddies, sisters, brothers would be dead! And after landing, what did he do?”

Hands raised, and wagged at the sky. “Chen,” the teacher said.

“The First Citizen helped us breath, and not die! He built our houses, and got us food!” the little boy said with a touch of reverence.

“Yes,” the teacher agreed, “he helped the People by making them understand what they were to do, and when to do it.” The teacher paused, and in a soft voice he said, “Some of the People are not People, but people. They do not want to help, but to hurt.” In a softer voice he said, “What hurts the people?”

No hands shot up. No one wanted to answer this question. He called on May, who tentatively answered, “Not working for the People. Being selfish. Thinking bad thoughts.”

The teacher nodded and gave May a smile. “And we don’t want to do that,” he said. “We all love the First Citizen, don’t we?”

All the little faces nodded and said in unison, “We love the First Citizen.”

*~*~*~*

Children’s barracks, Sparta Command – SPARTA 2118

“I like the names you chose Commandant Fong.”

“Thank you Colonel. I thought it might help the children build pride and unit cohesion.” Commandant Fong replied with a hint of pride in her voice. Above each of the rooms was a banner with an animal on it. Currently there were only five “packs” at Sparta Command: wolverine, tiger, Bull, Horse and orca. “I have assigned wolverine, orca to military development. The tiger pack will be assigned to leadership and of course bull and horse packs will be assigned to manufacturing, support or research.”

“I thank you have a good handle on this Commandant. I think you have taken the broad guidelines found in my battle manual and applied them very effectively here.” Santiago commented as she watched a group of children in Orca pack, the oldest of all three packs, working at a sand table in their classroom concerning a military maneuver. Orca pack children ranged from 8 to 12 years of age.

“Thank you again Colonel. I have just returned from instructing the new Governor-General who is taking command of the colony pod on how I want his program set-up. Once he has it going I will inspect it to make sure it is up to our standards.” Fong said as she motioned for Santiago to follow her into another room.

When they entered the room it was filled with small children, tiger pact. These small children no older than four years old would one day become military leaders within the Spartan Federation.

“I though you might want to see your Carlos and Corrine.” Fong explained as she pointed at two small toddlers playing on the floor with two other children.

Santiago took a step forward and watched her twins push a ball back and forth between each other and the two other children. Corrine was a big girl for her age and her play demonstrated an aggressive nature to it. When Carlos had the ball you could almost see the gears spinning in his three year old head as he picked out the child that would most likely “miss” the ball. She was very proud of her children and they way they were developing. Corrine demonstrated every aspect she admired or expected, strength and determination. Carlos her son and the smaller and weaker of the two clearly showed a higher intellect and reasoning capabilities. If somehow the two of them could have been one, there “fusion” would have created a great leader and soldier. Yet fate had played its role and had “split” them into two: courage, strength and endurance and in the other intellect and cunning. Only time would tell whom fate would use these two children.

“Mommy!” Both of them screamed as they jumped up and ran over to her. They quickly grappled her legs and she reached down and pulled their faces up so she could talk to them.

“Colonel Santiago to you!” She commanded.

Both of them giggled for a second and respond, “Colonel mommy!”

Santiago looked over at Fong, “You need to work on this Commandant.”

However, Fong was too busy laughing to pay any attention to her superior.

*~*~*~*

Fecundity Towers, MY 2118

Even the best controls couldn’t prevent a combination of joy and sadness at the parting. Almost half the colonists at Fecundity Towers had been given the honor of being in the colony pod headed toward their new home. Although it was not so far away, little more than the near horizon, it would take years of unending toil to move all the people and materials where the new colony would be constructed. Then, another delving would take place, the perimeters set, and the colonists would have a new home.

The placement of that new warren had been a subject of much debate, which the First Citizen had encouraged. At this juncture it was critical to have all the ideas and facts be presented in a forthright manner; otherwise a grave error could occur, and that would not be to anyone’s benefit. After weeks of refereed discussion the two side had come down to spending the time to get to a optimal base site, one at the headwaters to a river and access to rainy potential farm fields, or those that advocated expediency, arguing that delay denied the People the resources they deserved.

Both sides had argued strenuously, trying to convince the First Citizen of their merit. They knew that to win this argument, and be proved right, would be a great boost in the status in the Hive Hierarchy. With the right decision they might win the right to whisper into the ear of the First Citizen, and having the honor of helping him guide the People in their quest for expansion.

In the end the First Citizen had decided both were correct. The colony pod from Fecundity Towers would proceed to the optimal site, and the colony pod to be complete in the coming year at The Hive would chose the path of expediency.

But, more than the selection, the decision itself served the ends of the First Citizen. Now no party would be ascendant, and both would still struggle for control. The winnowing would continue, testing the mettle of all involved, showing who had the will, the intelligence, and the aptitude to win the argument and then enforce their will upon the others.

Indeed, that was the entire point to the debate. It would show who had great promise to be a leader.

And who was a potential rival.

*~*~*~*~*~*

One sector southeast of Fort Superiority – SPARTA 2219

Governor-General Jane Maxwell turned around to see the last glimpse of Fort Superiority disappear behind the hill. She and her colonists were now alone. She turned back and looked westward to see if she could catch a glimpse of the 2nd scout cavalry that were shadowing the colonists as the approached the fungal barrier. She had wished to have them with the colonists but that was not in the cards.

“Governor-General?”

Maxwell turned to her left to see a young girl walking beside her.

“Yes?” Maxwell replied. Curious that the girl would leave her pack so nonchalantly since they had been told not to do so.

“Governor-General will we see any aliens?” The girl asked with a slight trace of fear in her voice.

“If we do I will let you know.”

“Oh now Governor-General please don’t. I am afraid of them.” She replied quickly her voice cracking in fear.

“What pack are you assigned?”

“Buffalo pack.”

A worker pack Maxwell remembered. Odd that Commandant Fong would have assigned a female to a worker pack. However, based on the child’ reaction it was clear she was not cut out for the military.

“Run back to you pack before you are reported missing and get punished.” Maxwell ordered and the small girl quickly ran back behind the lumbering colony pod.

Maxwell watched her run and thought perhaps if they did meet an alien she might be the only one that does survive. She had thought about the aliens too and knew that if they did encounter them that her colonists would have to help fight them as best they could until the cavalry showed up. She just hoped that they would get there quickly.

*~*~*~*~

The Hive, MY 2119

First Citizen Yang was pleased. The last vestiges of the old system had been swept away, and the People properly conditioned to accept and even expect the order that The Hive needed to survive. Slowly, by degrees, the thoughts of representative government had been criticized and then denigrated. At the same time the People’s Representatives played on the fears, many of them very real, of disorder, and of the threats which constantly surrounded them: an alien planet, a hostile ecology, the low numbers of the People. All combined, with the proper allocation of resources to produce an efficient Police State.

To be sure, the resources brought be the harvesting of the strange colonial life forms of Chiron helped considerably. Three of these creatures had been eliminated, bringing a large boost to the treasury. In many ways it was an investment since the advantages in control, and the extra labor the people gave to support, was considerable.

This, of course, was just the first of many steps that would be required to make the People ready for their true task of leading humanity to more than survival on this world. The goal was domination, and ensuring that the chaos of earth and Unity were not inflicted upon the tattered remnant of humanity. There could be no more experiments, and no more starry-eyed theories. The only hope that humanity would persevere and then reclaim its place in the stars would be through discipline. That was the calling of The Hive.

*~*~*~*

Two sectors southeast of Fort Superiority – SPARTA 2120

The colonists trudged through the thick fungus like growth. The large colony pod tore up huge chunks of the fragile fungus as it lumbered southward towards the colony site.

Governor-General Maxwell stopped as she watched the pod rumble by. She had wanted the 2nd scout cavalry to lead the way through the fungus but they had been ordered to take up a rear guard position by Sparta Command. Maxwell knew very well the reasons for that. Should an alien creature attack the colony pod the scouts could move in and destroy them. If they were attacked first then the outcome of that battle was not certain.

“Governor-General!”

Maxwell turned towards the person yelling at her. The man was running back from the front of the column.

“What!” She yelled back.

“Governor-General.” The man stopped in front of her, his breath coming in ragged gasps. “I would like to report that I have seen the end of the fungus. We should be able to clear it within a day.”

Maxwell smiled and patted the man on his shoulder. “Good job. Now get aboard the pod and pinpoint the exact area we can clear the fungus as quickly as possible.”

The man merely nodded and then turned and left.

If the colony pod would clear the fungus by the end of this turn and then another to reach the site and then they could set-up. Two more turns. Once the scouts cleared the fungus they would make their base their forward operations area and then proceed to scout out more of the area. Perhaps she was worrying for nothing?

Maxwell began to jog after the man to see for herself when they would find the end to this nightmare.

*~*~*~*

The Hive, MY 2120

“What are your conclusions, Citizen Paine?” Yang asked.

The young woman, who had likely been a child at the time of landing, didn’t finch, but responded immediately. “First Citizen, the People’s enlightened policies now allow us to support twice as many military or civilian operative units as before. This will greatly allow us to field terraformers, military units, or colony pods without negatively impacting our industrial production.

“Moreover, the heightened awareness of the People to the needs of our expanding society will allow us much greater social stability as soon as we…expand our surveillance ability.”

Yang leaned forward. “What do you mean, Citizen?”

“Additional police, or surveillance units, will be needed.”

The First Citizen nodded. “At what point will that be necessary?”

“That is not known yet, First Citizen. The People’s Council and People’s Scientists have not yet reached a consensus. When they have they will inform the First Citizen, and then we will know the answer.”

Yang reflected that this candidate held real promise. Now, for the final test. “When the First Citizen has collected the information from the People’s Council and the People’s Scientists and has decided, do your studies indicate it would be advisable to create more such police units?”

The young lady shook her head. “No, First Citizen. We must expand, and expand quickly. Our bases will remain relatively small and well within the abilities of our current police units. It is doubtful that any additional surveillance will be needed in the immediate future.”

“Is that your opinion, Citizen?” Yang asked.

“No, First Citizen. It is the conclusion reached by the People’s Scientists, at the recommendation of the First Citizen,” she replied.

Yang nodded again. “Citizen, you have done well. Your examination is concluded, and you have passed. Now, we can begin.”

The young women straightened and a fleeting smile passed her lips. With methodical efficiently she disrobed and stepped forward to a waiting First Citizen.

**Hydro** · April 30, 2004, 20:34

Supreme Spartan Command, Administration and Training center (SSCAT), Sparta Command – SPARTA 2121

Santiago walked up to the large steel doors to the SSCAT and waited for the guards to clear her through. Within a minute the massive blast door began to swing out and Santiago entered along with her myrmidon bodyguards. They entered the massive entry vestibule and waited patiently for the blast doors to seal and the room to pressurize. Above the room four automated defense pods tracked their movements in case they would try to do any “harm” to the facility. A green light blinked on and the internal blast doors began to swing open.

“Welcome to SSCAT Colonel!” Major Cynthia West announced as she motioned from them to enter.

Santiago merely nodded and moved into the main hall area of SSCAT.

“Colonel I would like to officially welcome you to SSCAT. Since you were intimately involved with the construction of this facility I don’t think we really need to do a tour. I am sure you remember that on this main level you will find bulk storage and the maintenance facilities along with our large training hall. If you will follow me to the elevator we will go down to the command center.” West motioned for them to follow her to one of the six elevators. West put a plastic card into a reader and then leaned forward for her eye to be scanned for a retinal verification. A green light blinked on and the elevator opened.

Santiago, West and her myrmidon bodyguards entered the elevator. West pushed the last button on the panel marked operations/command.

“Colonel we will be traveling down nearly five hundred feet below the surface. We have ten levels below surface that comprise SSCAT. The upper levels are dedicated to training and barracks. The middle levels to research and support and the bottom two levels are the command and control.” West reported as they all waited patiently for the elevator to reach the bottom.

“Has master-technician Smith completed his work on the new weapon proto-type?” Santiago asked quietly.

“Yes Colonel his team of engineers has. The impact cannon is ready for testing today in fact if you would like to see it.”

“I would”

“The test will begin today on level 5 at 10:00hours in the main testing room.”

“How soon can we go into production?”
“If the test goes well we should be able to start construction on the impact rovers within a turn.”

“How powerful does Smith think these impact weapons will be?"

“They should be a full four times more powerful than any standard assault cannon we have and they are double the fire power of our laser cannons. In addition, the impact cannons should have longer range as well.”

“Good.”

“I have also instructed Smith to begin using more of our resources to increase the productivity of his research and development programs. Smith is confident that based on the resources he now has to work with that another major breakthrough should be achieved within a decade.”

“Try to push him on that.”

“Yes Colonel.”

Just then the elevator opened up at the command and control level.

“Colonel our new home!” West reported proudly.

Santiago walked out of the elevator into the massive command center. It was multi-tiered room with hundreds of displays and maps arranged around the room. Everywhere soldiers were sitting at desks or at map tables working on various administrative or military matters. Yes Santiago thought she was truly at home.

*~*~*~*

Great Collective, MY 2121

Yang stood on a small dais in front of the assembled residents of the new base. He paused a moment to look out at their expectant faces. That base had taken a few years to prepare, and to erect the required buildings and perimeter defense, but now all was in order.

“As First Citizen it is my honor to acknowledge to work of the People. The building of this base is a testament to years of labor and planning, and as with all such endeavors it will both serve the People and the People will serve it. Each new warren is an expansion of our new vision for humanity, one where the People will labor for the benefit of all, casting aside the petty and ignorant selfish urges that have doomed humanity on lost earth. With each new expansion we prove our claim, showing that the People and their vision will prevail.

“The years of work were long and hard. The future promises more labor. But, it is a valiant and noble labor to selflessly give for the betterment of all. We all know that Chiron is our adoptive home, and that in many ways it is not friendly to our kind as earth was before it was destroyed. The People must struggle to ensure our survival against the predations of Chiron, and against the chaos that threatens our vision. For, if that vision fails, then the future of humanity has failed. We, the People of The Hive, will not allow that to happen.

‘Trials will test you, but if you are true to the vision you will prevail.

“And the People will prevail.”

Yang glanced over the crowd as he finished. Most faces were adjutant, some ecstatic. A few were noncommittal, and a minority was pensive or possibly hostile. He made a mental note of these possible sources of malcontent, and was sure the People’s Representatives of the Great Collective would effectively deal with any issues that would arise.

If they didn’t then they would find that they had become an ‘issue’, and that they would be effectively dealt with.

*~*~*~*

One sector northeast of Blast Rifle Crag Base –SPARTA 2121

“I say we just shoot it.”

“Shut up Private.” Captain Iverson barked back as she continued to study the alien device that was half buried in the soil. “Just get the hell over here private and help me dig this thing out.”

“Yes Captain.” Several other soldiers were already digging with their hands around the device to help expose it. “Look I mean Captain the last time we activated one of those alien devices we all got cloned. Now here is something new and we have no idea as to what it will do.”

“Just dig private and shut up!” Iverson fired back. She was tired and she was worried. She did not like the idea of getting “cloned” again since both her and her double had no idea as to who was the original and who was the copy. It was still very unnerving. However, SSCAT wanted it activated at once and she was going to do it hell or high water.

“Captain I don’t see any other control panels or anything.” Reported another one of the privates digging on the other side of Iverson.

“Okay, stand back. I am going to push this large button first and then we will see what happens. If nothing happens then we pack it up and take it back to the base for them to look it over.” Iverson looked up as she finished and realized that her myrmidons had already raced away from her even before she had finished. She then reached over and lifted up the control panel shield and then hit the large purple button and jumped up and ran away.

“Run Captain!” Several of her soldiers were now yelling at her and she risked a quick look over her shoulder as she was running. The device was glowing white-hot and she could feel the heat it was giving off. She also saw that it was sinking into the ground.

She kept running for a few minutes and reached a large area of boulders where her rovers and soldiers were hiding. Iverson quickly turned around and saw that the device was nowhere to be seen now. It had sunk or melted into the earth.

“What the hell do you think happened?” The discontented private from earlier said.

“Shut up and get back to the rovers so we can monitor any changes that might happen.” Iverson ordered.

Just as the soldier was getting up a massive shock wave hit them and lift them up from the ground by several feet. The earth began to rumble and shake uncontrollably and everyone was splayed out on the ground. The effect lasted for around ten minutes and then it subsided.

“Alright begin checking for radiation, anything!” Iverson ordered as she picked herself up.

Her team began to race back to the rovers and check the various instruments.

“Captain I think you need to come over here.” One of her team members reported.

Iverson raced over to the young woman who was pointing at one of the targeting system displays on the gunnery control panel. Iverson rubbed her eyes and then tapped the display several times in disbelief.

“Everyone check you azimuth-altitude read out display on the gunnery panel!” Iverson yelled.

Within a few seconds everyone began to report the same reading, 2134 meters above sea level. Iverson sat down and rubbed her head in disbelief. That damn device had caused this entire area to elevate over 1,000 meters. It must have been a seismic shock wave device used for terraforming purposes or something she thought. She was dismayed that the device could have encapsulated so much power in so small of a unit.

“Well Captain at least we didn’t clone ourselves again.” The discontented soldier half laughed as she said it.

“Shut up and get SSCAT on the line as well as the Governor-General of Blast Rifle Crag. I am sure they will want to know why the world just got shook up to hell and back.”

*~*~*~*

Seat of Proper Thought, MY 2122

The assembled People’s Representatives milled about, talking shop and comparing notes on how to effectively control their charges. The brief ceremony opening the newest Hive city Seat of Proper Thought had just finished, and the fifteen dignitaries had assembled in the Feeding Bay, which was temporarily off limits to the workers. This was the closest thing to a party that they had had in a long time. The workers, of course, were not allowed to participate. When they reached a level of social attainment or worth to their society then they would gain more status and privileges.

Yang, of course, was a participant in the party in name only. He did not take any drinks, nor did he partake in the small tray of snacks someone had prepared from their own rations. As always he observed the People’s Representatives, and the interactions between them. The People’s Representatives, of course, knew this and attempted to act normal and in a manner befitting their understanding of a People’s Representative.

Such efforts were easily detected, however. Whether young or old, the newest People’s Representative always stood out. They were unsure of their status in the hierarchy, and were eager to prove themselves. As a result they chose to strike up conversations with those who were either their betters, or who were obviously their inferiors. Most talked in a tone that was too loud, not understanding that a soft but well-spoken declaration is more effective than a brash but forceful statement. It was also interesting to see how fast the new People’s Representatives adapted. A few understood their position immediately and opted to observe; this was prudent and worthy of their position of People’s Representatives. Although there were none in this group, a rare handful adapted easily. They seemed to intuitively understand the social structure and how to succeed within it. Most were destined for leadership positions, or elimination if they proved too strident in their views. The sorriest group persisted in their efforts. These were destined for the lowest rung or ejection from the position of People’s Representative.

Information is power, Yang reflected, and one can only gain information through careful observation and hard work. It would be critical for Hive’s leadership to have a full appreciation of this, and use it regularly.

*~*~*~*

SSCAT Center, Sparta Command – SPARTA 2122

“Colonel could I have a word with you?”

Santiago looked up from the map she was studying to see Captain Jamie Clinton standing in front of her.

“What is it Captain?” Santiago replied as she looked back down at the map to continue her calculations.

“Colonel I need to talk with you in private. This is of the utmost importance.”

Santiago finished her work, which took a few more minutes and then stood up and motioned for Clinton to follow her. They both walked over to the far side of the room where Santiago had her suite of offices.

The myrmidon guards snapped to attention as Santiago marched through and then closed the door behind them.

“Okay what is it?” Santiago snapped.

“Colonel we are not alone.”

The simple statement seem to cast a spell over the room as Santiago realized that her chief of intelligence had at last found other survivors.

“What do we know?”

“Colonel about two hours ago a radio operators picked up some strange deviations on the main communication frequency bandwidths. It seems clear based on the volume of encrypted traffic that is taking place there could be three to perhaps five other groups of survivors from the Unity.” Clinton reported as she handed Santiago a report.

“Can we talk to them?”

“No.” Clinton replied quickly as she reached over to open the report Santiago had in her hands. “As you can see in these sections without “knowing” the correct frequency and encryption pattern they are using we will never be able to lock our system in with theirs. We know that they are there but not what they are saying. Also you should be aware that I would suspect that other survivors know the same level of intelligence that we do. In addition while I was on the way to bring you this report I have one more for you.”

“Yes?”

“The 1st recon cavalry encountered another form of aliens. This time they were a mass of tendrils or tubes. If you could imagine a plate of spaghetti that could move and attack that would best characterize this life form.”

“How many more of these things are out there?” Santiago asked as she studied the photos of the remains from the dead creature.

“Unknown Colonel. Suffice it to say we could be lucky in that we have only had to face two of these creatures and not an army of them. If they attacked us in force or as a combined operating unit I would say they could have wiped us clean of this planet.” Clinton’s tone left no room for discussion on this. Even though the Spartans had won every battle so far the technology they had found clearly indicated a civilization that was nearly 1,000 turns more advanced than humanity.

“Okay.” Santiago stood up and moved closer to Clinton. “From now these signals are to be kept secret. Only you, me and the radio operators you trust, is that clear are to know of this?”

Clinton merely nodded her head to acknowledge.

“I want full reports made to me and me alone. If any word gets out on this I will consider it a breach of security and issue orders to have everyone, including you, arrested. Is this clear?”

Clinton merely nodded again.

“Now, I want to read this and you are to sit here until I am done and then I plan on asking you some questions.”

Clinton was not sure if this was a question or a command but it was always reasonable to assume anything Santiago said was a command so she sat down and await the blizzard of questions to come.

*~*~*~*

The Hive, MY 2123

First Citizen Yang looked at the contents of the Unity pod, which was being methodically organized and inventoried by a special squad of workers from The Hive. Each was meticulous in their duty, and they didn’t dare notice that the First Citizen was watching them do their work.

“It is a foil,” Yang said. He was intimately aware of the possible contents of the Unity pods, and in many cases had designed their cargos.

“Yes, First Citizen,” the Brandon, the People’s Science Representative. “Although somewhat damaged during the landing and the exposure to the elements and Chiron for 23 years, the instructions were unambiguous. It will be fairly slow due to its fueling requirements, and will have limited cargo space. There are also no weapons.”

Yang simply nodded. He had known this, of course, but it was useful to have it confirmed.

“When can the foil be operational?” he asked.

“Following the instructions, it will take one to two weeks of labor to assemble and then test the craft. These workers are making good progress. Will they be allowed to continue?” the science advisor asked.

“Yes,” Yang replied. After a brief pause he continued. “Will there be any significant drain on The Hive’s resources to keep the craft operational?”

“No, First Citizen. The Unity Pod came with ample supplies to keep the craft running, likely for its useful life.”

“Could those resources be used by The Hive?” the First Citizen asked.

“Yes,” Brandon said. “The resources provided by scrapping would be minimal, however. It is worth considering if its role as explorer is not deemed useful.”

“For the moment it is useful. You will be apprised if a contrary decision is made,” Yang said.

Brandon nodded once. He was pleased, since Yang had just turned the exploration over to him. This was a responsibility and had risks, but The Hive did not reward those who took no risks; those were workers, or drones, which did what they were told.

*~*~*~*

Two sectors south of Blast Rifle Crag – SPARTA 2123

“At last something worked!”

“Stop being so sarcastic Kelly! Get on the radio and inform SSCAT that we found one of the robotic survey pods from the Unity and it has located a rich nutrient sector for agricultural production.” Captain Iverson stomped past her rover radioperson and up to the small robot unit. She reached over and turned it off and then picked it up.

“Captain we should leave it here. Why bring that hunk of junk back with us?” Her driver asked.

“Because my dear myrmidon driver it has a memory base from its landing and perhaps our techs can recover it and piece together the information so we have a better idea of what this planet looks like. Just because all of the men are being asked to shoulder the technical burden that does not mean we have to be complete idiots. Every piece of information we can add to our database helps the Spartan nation grow stronger.” Iverson fired back annoyed that her driver had gotten under her skin. Both Kelly and Long were close friends and recently had been even closer. Unfortunately for Iverson she was unable to accept that friendship or even share intimate contact without breaking her code of conduct as an officer.

“Sorry Captain you are right I suppose.” Long sheepishly apologized.

Iverson merely grunted her acknowledgment as she walked past both of them carrying the robot and then heaved it into the back of the rover.

“Captain I have SSCAT on the line!” Kelly reported.

“Okay, okay. Just make your report to SSCAT on what we found and ask for our new orders.” Iverson ordered as she walked back around the rover and flung herself into her chair. She waited patiently as Kelly completed her report and then got their new orders.

“Captain SSCAT wants the whole unit to move west by south and continue our search. Blast Rifle Crag will send out a jolly car to pick up the robot at these coordinates. We also got a “good job” from Captain Alexandrovna.” Kelly said as she handed Iverson the orders.

For a few minutes Iverson just sat there fuming mad that she could not take her team back to the new base for rest. She simply crumpled up the small note and threw it out of the rover.

“Okay lets move. Inform the other rovers and have them form up on us. Delta formation 1-klick separation between units.” Iverson said as she finished locking herself into her chair and secured her assault rifle. “Lets move!”

**Hydro** · April 30, 2004, 20:36

The Hive, MY 2124

A faint beeping caught the attention of People’s Military Commander Winston Farrout. He turned toward an improvised radio receiver and activated the unit, the upper corner of which still said ‘Unity Pod 6 Secondary Radio Control’.

“Farrout, receiving,” he said.

A series of hisses erupted from the speaker. After a few moments the signal cleared enough to be audible.

“…and we attacked the worms. Smith felt something in his mind, and as he clutched his head yelled ‘mindworm attack!’. We turned and, just as he predicted, there was a worm just ahead of us in the fungus. We won, but it cost us…”

More static.

“…will be cached at transceiver station 57. The First Citizen will find a use for the remains of the mindworm. We will wait as we repair, which should take years, unless ordered to do otherwise. Food supplies adequate, as is our power in the old Unity rover. No other…”

The transmission broke up completely. Winston was pleased, and the First Citizen could indeed use the energy from the worms. Mindworms, is that what Explorer Two had called them? It seemed to fit, anyway.

What was annoying is that both of the exploration units were now incapacitated. It would be a long time before they could explore again, and the First Citizen was demanding where the fifth and sixth bases could be located. No delay could be tolerated, of course.

*~*~*~*

Spartan Battle Manual chapter four “Security” – SPARTA 2124

This chapter will most likely be the longest so I will give a brief overview of my policies before getting into the “tactics” and strategies portion of it. Our security is paramount. Without security our society can be corrupted, it can be disrupted and it can be destroyed. Every great nation has met its end as a result of bad intelligence and security. The Roman Empire was destroyed because they failed to gather intelligence on their enemy and in turn failed to prevent their enemy from knowing their strengths and more importantly their weaknesses. I have studied this phenomenon in great detail and I can assure you that this fate will not befall the Spartan Federation. I know the importance of good intelligence and the use of counter-intelligence and the roll it plays. In the second great world war the “allies” used counter-intelligence to such a great extent that even when the invasion of Europe had begun the Nazi empire was still convinced that it was a “hoax”. The end result was the defeat of the Nazi regime all due to the fact that the Nazi’s lost the war in intelligence. The Nazi’s had far more effective armor and cannons they also had advanced weapons of war and yet they failed to invest in their intelligence network. This will not happen to the Spartan Federation.

Every citizen is responsible for security. If you see a neighbor or friend “acting” in a suspicious manner then you are duty and honor bound to consult with a G-3 agent so that they can investigate the issue. In every aspect of our lives we must eat, breath and sleep security!

I will be clear as crystal on yet another issue: treason. If any Spartan should be found guilty of treason by the courts martial board the resulting penalty will be death by firing squad. There will be no appeal nor will there be any other “form” of punishment available for the courts martial to levy. Treason is treason and it will be exterminated! Any agent of a foreign power found in our lands whose goal is espionage and chaos will be shot on the spot. I will suffer no chance of defeat by risking “civilized” rules of war for the sake of security for my nation. Death comes to all traitors no matter what side of the fence they stand on.

I have made myself clear and I will fully expect that any Spartan reading this manual will understand the consequences of their actions, death.

*~*~*~*

Seat of Proper Thought, MY 2125

First Citizen Yang completed his inspection. The final load of materials from the Unity Pod had been retrieved and even now the recycling tank was being completed. This city, which was on a river at a high altitude, would prove a boon for The Hive. With the recycling tank the energy production would be more than significant. Moreover, with the completion of the roads linking all Hive cities the colony pods would be able to speed into place in a third the time the first wave had required.

The only vexing item was the lack of exploration. The only are that had been investigated was to the south, and much of that territory was not terribly inviting. North and northeast were largely unknown, and it would be in appropriate to send a colony pod there. There was too much to risk, and the People’s Representatives had recommended that a marginal base site that could be accessed quickly was much superior to a premium site that took years to get to, or for the unknown.

This was a prudent recommendation, and worthy of the People’s Representatives. The Hive thrived on productivity, and delay meant a decline in productivity. Any premium site would be used to its fullest at a later date.

In the meantime the decisions were much simpler. The Hive would have greater quandaries in the future. Or so it would be hoped.

*~*~*~*

SSCAT Center – Sparta Command – SPARTA 2125

“What did they find?”

“One of the robotic mining machines that the Unity had on board. Unfortunately the robotic mining device is not “moveable” once it has landed. The 1st recon rovers activated the unit here.” Major West quickly activated the holographic map table and the mining station was displayed. “Unfortunately for us the robotic miner landed in an area rich in minerals but not in nutrients or water. The entire area around the site is arid and barren.”

“This is unfortunate. I am still troubled by the location of these monoliths. If we were to draw a line linking of the monoliths we would have a near east to west line. I want the 1st recon rovers to continue moving east to see what they can find.”

“I agree Colonel.” Captain Smith added. “We have explored a great deal of territory and I would like to get my recon teams back here since they are our only mobile offensive force until we get the impact rovers on line but the more we explore the better chance we have of finding more Unity pods and resource. In addition, if we can pin point our enemies before they can find us all the better.”

“I agree Captain.” Santiago replied. “If there are other Unity survivors the sooner we pull them in under our banner the better. If there are any aliens then we need to destroy them before they destroy us.”

For a few minutes everyone was quiet as everyone contemplated what their leader had said.

“Order the 1st and 2nd recon rovers east. I want more effort put into to finishing the 1st heavy cavalry regiment. I want those impact rovers on-line as quickly as possible.” Santiago ordered.

“Colonel the Governor-Generals of the two colony pods in production have asked for escort rovers when they leave. If our recon rovers are out and the 1st Cavalry regiment is to be held in reserve that leaves us with no escorts.” Major West asked.

“The perspective colony sites are fairly safe areas. We will have to trust to the courage of the colonists to withstand the attacks if they come. However, make sure that each colony pod has ample supplies to build weapons once they are up and running.” Santiago quickly replied.

“Yes Colonel.” They all replied in unison.

Santiago merely nodded and then turned to leave the room.

*~*~*~*

The Hive, MY 2126

The People’s Science Advisor considered the question and gave a careful answer. “First Citizen, the recycling tank has increased our resource and energy production, but the completion of the colony pod at Fecundity Towers has reduced their ability to harvest materials, and supply the resources to our laboratories. Per the advice of the People’s Representatives, we have concentrated on building colony pods – a worthy goal. I recommend that at least two bases be allowed to grow and acquire additional population to support increased resource collection. This will aid our scientific efforts greatly. The task of expanding the frontiers of The Hive can be left to our newer bases, which are closer to the new bases sites. This has the advantage of lessening transit time, and increasing efficiency.”

The First Citizen listed. His face was impassive, as always, and attentive. “If we pursue your suggestion, what would you propose the bases produce?” Yang wanted to see how well the Science Advisor had thought through his proposal – a test of sorts.

“There are three likely options. The first is to produce a backup garrison, or even a terraformer. Fecundity Towers is adjacent to a xenofungus field, and it could be attacked at any time. In that event the garrison at The Hive could provide assistance, but only after the worm had attacked. A terraformer would be useful, perhaps to plant another forest or remove the fungus. A second option would be to start a recycling tank. As we have seen at Seat of Proper Thought, they significantly improve resource production. This would take a considerable period of time, however. Or we could start a Project!”

A note of excitement crept into the Advisor’s voice. He stifled it immediately.

“Which do you recommend, Science Advisor?” Yang asked.

The Science Advisor hesitated, and then answered, “A recycling tank, First Citizen. Moreover, I recommend that it be completed ahead of schedule when possible. Our energy reserves are limited, but the benefits are significant. For several years we do have the option of switching production, if the need should arise. A recycling tank is not such a large risk as a Project, even if it is a worthy goal.”

Yang nodded. The advisor turned and left the room.

The First Citizen pondered for a moment, then decided. It was an easy choice.

*~*~*~*

1st Recon rovers, 15 sectors southeast of Sparta Command – SPARTA 2126

“Our orders are to push on.” Captain Iverson dispassionately said as she looked around the small group of soldiers who comprised the 1st recon rovers. “Colonel Santiago considers our mission to search out all areas around Spartan territory as paramount. We need to find everything out we can.”

“Captain we are all myrmidons but even this is hard to believe. We have not been back to a base in turns, double digit turns. We need food supplies and ammunition and parts!” Iverson’s master sergeant reported with a slight tint of anger.

“Master sergeant I understand your concern. We will be meeting up with our clones from the 2nd recon next turn so all we have to do is hold out till then. I am sure we have ample supplies for that. After that we push on along this river valley as quickly as we can.” Iverson said as she laid a map out for everyone to see. “As you all can see from our current position we have mapped a considerable amount of area. However, much of it is uninhabitable this side of the great range. For now the Spartan Federation will have to build along the western slope of the great range until we can find the means to irrigate the soil. However, initial scans clearly indicate that more fertile land is just to our west. Especially this large mesa formation. That will be our next target.”

“Captain after that then do we get to go back?” One of her soldiers asked.

“Yes we do and then right back again as escorts. Let me remind you that to be a myrmidon is something beyond the normal. We do what is un-doable. We are the exception. Is that clear!” Iverson roared at them.

“YES CAPTAIN!” They all screamed in unison.

“Excellent.” She replied as she stood up and saluted them. “Now get our gear stored and lets move out now!”

All around her myrmidons began to scramble to get the rovers packed and ready to go. She hated this situation but there was no other choice for them. They had all agreed a lifetime ago that this was the best way to live. Now some were beginning to doubt it. She knew that back in the bases the new recruits were coming for an altogether different world. The new recruits were completely dedicated myrmidons but they were still yet small. Nearly 2/3rd of the myrmidons were made up of colonists that had other life experiences to draw upon. Now their old lives were beginning to show. Only time would tell if Santiago could hold this all together. As she walked back to her command rover she wondered if the other survivors, if there were any, had chosen any other types of survival tactics. Perhaps tomorrow they would find out.

*~*~*~*

Western Sea, MY 2127

The wide expanse of the sea was a deep blue, and there was a strong wind out of the west. Frothy whitecaps formed on the chop, and the Hive transport Collective Effort strained to make headway. The only area of the sea that was calm was a grayish pink and infested with xenofungus, and no amount of money would convince Captain Sihn to enter, unless ordered by the First Citizen, of course.

Repeated crashes of waves on the hull almost obscured the throbbing of the engines, which provided pitifully slow progress across the endless sea. It was fortunate that, although they were slow, the engines were built for endurance since almost all his crew was still recovering from the odd transportation that had thrown them so many sectors to the northwest. After reporting in, and convincing Science Advisor Brandon there was no error, it was possible to continue with their new orders – examine yet another anomaly.

Slowly the sea became calm and the wind died. Captain Sihn looked around, feeling that something was wrong. Yes, something was wrong; there was wind, but he just couldn’t feel it. The sea was rough but his transport was oblivious to the surging sea.

Sihn groaned, “Oh no, not again.”

The hapless [I]Collective Effort[/b] was transfixed yet again. The world dissolved before the captain’s eyes, the sea and air merging to an oblivious grey. It felt like his insides were being twisted, torn.

Slowly, slowly, color returned. Shapes congealed, and he had sensation on his skin again. The horizon became distinct, and the sea blue. With a sudden WHUMP the boat landed in the sea, a new sea. Again.

Dry heaves wracked the captain and the crew, just like before. But, the captain seemed to be able to recover quickly, unlike poor Hernandez who seemed to be in a coma. Reaching up he grabbed the gun rail and heaved himself to look around, and then stagger to the primitive location equipment.

25 sectors! he read. They were in a new area of the Western Sea. Luckily there were no more anomalies in the area, and Captain Sihn braced himself to report to Science Advisor Brandon. He was sure to be interested in their findings, although it remained to be seen if the First Citizen would be amused.

*~*~*~*

Spartan Battle Manual Chapter Four “Economics” – SPARTA 2127

Prior to writing this chapter I asked several of my senior aides a simple question and that is “what does economics have to do with war?” Three of the four aides began long dissertations on macro-economic theory that seemed to have no end. They also were wrong. After hearing their responses I demoted them to sergeants and had them removed from the command staff. I then asked the duty officer, a junior lieutenant the same question and his response was clear and correct, “economics is to war as blood is to muscles. Without a good economic system that supports a military infrastructure the end result will be defeat on the battle field.” This young lieutenant is now my senior aide.

Our current economic system is very primitive when compared to the grand economic systems of Earth. However, we must do everything we can to help promote good economic systems. With this in mind I have issued executive order #9 “Economic Systems.” This directive establishes a system of “guilds” within our society to better organize and structure our economic system. I have established the following guilds: manufacturing, agricultural, technical and mining. These four guilds, though primitive in structure, will help to promote an efficient means of allocating resources, trades people and funding. In time I fully expect that our economic system will expand and grow so that we will have to look at more “encompassing” models. However for now we will make use of the most “efficient” means of production.

There are two ways to look at economics from our Spartan perspective. One can look at economic systems that generate income and those that maximize our resource production. Any other system in my opinion is worthless. If we cannot achieve increased income or increased production levels then we have failed to meet the first criteria for having an economic system and that is to make our military strong.

I will now go into a greater review of which economic models I feel are appropriate depending upon the circumstances. In general I would promote a “free market” system at time when increase funding is required. By having increased funding available for use would allow us to procure more weapons and to rapidly build materials of war. In times of war that we need to be on the offensive I would recommend an economic system that promotes maximize efficiency. Increased efficiency will allow us to decrease production time and maximize the size of army we can field. I do wish to make one thing clear I do not feel it is the responsibility of the military to “manage” the economic system. With that in mind I have established the position of Chancellor. That person will be responsible for maintaining a healthy economic system that supports a robust and powerful military machine.

**Hydro** · April 30, 2004, 20:37

The Hive, MY 2128

Marith knelt down to secure the ventilation grill, which she had finished cleaning. There were 15 more in this portion of the warren and all had to be cleaned by midday. The previous 11 had given her little problem, but the last was challenging. One of those odd pink growths had started in the inside, and it had coated the hex screws and partially covered the fine grate. It has resistant to all but the strongest oxidants, and typical solvents were useless. Of course, a liberal amount of elbow grease had been needed to remove the last of the infestation. This was precisely the reason her job was so important, she knew. Without her efforts the warrens would quickly be filled with dank, un-breathable air, or worse, no air at all. Everyone depended on her.

She picked up her cleaning kit, straightened her work smock, and started toward the next grate. Then she heard a commotion. It was her duty to see that the noise did not present a threat to her people, so as she had been taught she put down her kit and turned to examine the noise. It got louder, and it was the sound of running. Yes, that was it – a person was running down the hallway, and it was getting louder.

That was unusual. Running was not allowed since it was not safe for the person, other people, or equipment.

In a few moments the runner came into view. He was medium height and his work smock was disheveled. His hair was long, just touching his ears, and decidedly non-regulation. Hers was cropped to two centimeters, as was appropriate. The runner was breathing hard, and then turned and started to run again. Then he saw her.

“Help me, please!” he pleaded. He padded toward her. His face was plaintive.

A look of disgust washed over Marith’s face and she stepped away.

The man moaned softly to himself and his head drooped a little.

His head perked up again. There were more running feet, and they were coming down the hall. He muttered a muted, “No,” and then started running away from Marith.

As he left she could see he was limping and had blood streaming from an incision in the back of his head. She maintained her place since she knew the People’s Protectors would be here in moments and she did not want to get in their way. Her work would wait, and her People’s Representative would understand. Two women and a man came into view. They had short stun stick in their hands, and were sprinting down the hall. Marith nodded to them as they approached and, on that cue, the man, who was farthest behind, stopped and got Marith’s information. It took all of a few seconds, and then he was off.

When they were gone Marith picked up her kit and returned to work. She shook her head as she padded down the dimly lit hall. He knew the man, of course: it had been Martin, her first assigned husband. She reflected it was a good thing she had reported him.

*~*~*~*

Factory complex Alpha, Sparta Command – SPARTA 2128

“Excellent work both of you!” Santiago remarked approvingly as she walked down the rows of machines, drill presses and lathes.

Behind her walked Master Technician Albert and Captain Jenna Michaels the supply officer. It had taken nearly nine turns of hard work but each Spartan base now had the base infrastructure to support industrial development. In time more shops, mills and fabrication centers could be added on but the nucleolus of material was now ready to build on.

“Thank you Colonel.” Both of them replied in unison almost as they happily marched behind her.

“What is your first project?” Santiago asked as she stopped near a mill area that was in operation. A group of workers, the lowest rating of non-military personnel, were busy pushing a large cauldron into a furnace.

“Well Colonel with our new production capacity we can build armor for our rovers and infantry units. With this new armor design our forces should be all but impenetrable to assault rifle attack.” Master Technician Albert replied quickly.

“Excellent my thoughts exactly. I want high priority placed on upgrades on armor for all units.”

“Colonel the problem will be with those bases that lack rich mineral deposits. Right now only half of our bases have the capacity to support such an ambitious program.” Captain Michaels interjected.

Santiago stood silently for a minute watching the workers toil under the heat and strain of the furnace.

“I do not care. Top priority, do you both hear me?” Santiago commanded.

“Yes Colonel.” Both of the replied promptly since it was not a good idea to delay responding to an hour.

“Excellent.” Santiago commented as she turned to leave the massive shops.

As they watched her go both Michaels and Smith looked at each other not saying a word since both of them knew that to share what they were saying would be considered seditious and punishable under the Spartan code of military ethics.

*~*~*~*

The Hive, MY 2129

First Citizen Yang gave Deirdre Skye a shallow bow. “You are most welcome. The people of the Hive and your Gaians will both prosper with this trade.”

The image of Deirdre shimmered slightly and almost dissolved completely before clearing up. Her image turned to the side and she appeared to state something in a loud voice to someone just out of view.

“First Citizen Yang, I whole heartedly agree. We are both stronger when we trade technology. We will prosper with the abilities of information networks, and I’m sure you will find a use for the doctrine of mobility. I hope more exchanges can be arranged.”

“I can assure you,” Yang stated, “that will be pursed with vigor. I am uploading our land maps, as pre our pact.”

“As am I,” Deirdre said. She reached forward and appeared to toggle a switch.

A soft beep and a yellow light on Yang’s communication console informed him that her data had been received.

Yang forced himself to smile. “Until next time, Ms. Skye.”

Dee graced him with a warm smile. “Sheng-ji.” Then she signed off.

*~*~*~*

One sector North of Defiance Freehold – SPARTA 2129

“Its all down hill now Governor-General.”

“Its still two more sectors to the colony so just because its down hill does not mean it’s a smooth trip.” An exasperated Governor-General Jamie Hill replied.

“All I meant Governor-General is that at least we do not have to tramp over the great mountain range or slug it out through a fungus field and we have an escort of impact rovers to protect us.” Lieutenant Ham quickly replied.

“I know, I know but we cannot let ourselves get over confident. We will be the fifth Spartan colony and Sparta needs the resources that we can contribute so the sooner we get there the better but we need to get there first.” Hill said as she jumped down from the colony pod to the ground. It was time to review the scout report with the rover Captain and confirm what was up ahead. She quickly glanced around the area and could not see any rovers.

Damn she thought as she began to quickly walk around the colony pod. As she trotted around the crawler the colonists quickly moved out of her way. Many of them were loaded down with personal effects. Jamie Hill was an “old timer” an original colonist from the Unity. When she was placed in charge of this colony she had been told that many of her colonists were going to be young adults and even some teenagers. SSCAT believed that the new bases should be mostly staffed with the youngest recruits that could be found in order to promote a healthy population. Hill felt having to explain even the simplest concepts to “kids” rather than having to deal with adults was punishing her.

She stopped at the rear of the crawler and looked again but still no sign of the rovers. They must be still out scouting the area and hopefully they had not found anything. The rovers were crucial to her mission since as soon as the colony was established the rovers would be tasked at exploring an adjacent sector that might have a Unity pod.

She stood there for some time watching for the rovers and allowing the crawler and colonists to steadily “creep” away from her. Each passing minute seemed to bring her closer to her real desire, freedom. She secretly wished she had not been tasked to serve, as Governor-General but there was nothing she could do about it. The simple fact of the matter was if Colonel Santiago told you to do something you did it.

“Governor-General?”

Hill looked to her left to see her aide pointing to the north. The rovers must be on their way back, thankfully. She began to walk back towards the column of colonists and the burden began to fall on her again.

*~*~*~*

The Hive, MY 2130

"Another monolith?" First Citizen Yang asked.

"Yes, First Citizen," People's Science Advisor Scott Simon said. "Our newest base used its terraformer to investigate the anomaly that had been wisely left alone, and under the xenofungus was a monolith. It took very little time for the citizens to utilize its resources, which before this time were anemic."

A single eyebrow rose. "Even when the city was cited on a river as you suggested?"

"Even so," he replied. He had learned not to flinch. "It was expedient to utilize that territory due to its proximity nearby bases, and to ensure the colonists were productive as soon as possible. Terraformers, as per our doctrine, can improve the land in a short period of time."

"And what will the colonists do when they have additional labor to harvest the bounty of the land?" Yang asked. "Will they pluck at the fungus, or scrape from the arid lands?"

"No, First Citizen. By that time the rich rivers will be forested, and that will provide the bounty they need to expand the People to the horizon of this planet. Such is our duty, and our destiny," he replied.

Shengi-ji Yang nodded. That was the expected, pat answer, unoriginal but true. "And the progress of our scientific research?"

"Modest, but improving. The extra energy is most welcome. It would be advantageous to keep our cities at least at 2000 people, but that may not be possible during our period of expansion. The People's Representatives and the First Citizen will inform us when our next phase of the People's Plan is to be effected."

Yang nodded again. The door behind the Science Advisor opened, and he left. First Citizen Yang was left to resolve his own doubts.

*~*~*~*

Command & Operations center, Fort Superiority – SPARTA 2130

“Colonel Santiago we are under attack.”

Santiago stared at the vid-screen for a few seconds as she absorbed the words as if they had been a physical blow.

“Give me a full break down.”

Governor-General Tam shifted in her seat slightly and then motioned to the map hanging behind her.

“Colonel to our west is a large fungus field. Just hours ago our scouts detected a large alien “worm” mass moving towards our base. It was much larger than any of the alien life forms we have seen before, nearly twice as large. I have ordered all workers to return to their quarters and I have placed our garrison on full alert. I would request additional support from SSCAT.” Tam finished her report by displaying a digital photo of the worm mass that one of her scouts had taken.

“Governor-General we have no forces to send you. Our impact cavalry regiment is escorting the colony pod to its base site. Our two recon cavalry companies are far to the east and south scouting the area. The only forces I can send you would be the garrison from Sparta Command and I am not about to do that.” Santiago quickly replied her voice stern and hard.

“Colonel you know I will do my best to defend my base but if the aliens are massing in force against us shouldn’t we make my base the front line and stop them here?”

“Governor-General Tam you need to hold and defend your base. I have not other forces to spare right now. I know you have a partially equipped heavy infantry unit training and equipping at your base right now. I suggest you divert some, if not all of them to support your garrison. If we can spare the additional energy credits to crash build the remaining equipment for your heavy/armored infantry we will do so but for now you have to rely on your own forces.” Santiago fired back.

Governor-General Tam sat quietly for a few minutes as she absorbed the Colonel’s words. It was clear that no help was coming. Only if the aliens smashed through their defenses and advance on Sparta Command would any support be available. She now fully understood the Spartan way of life: survival of the fittest.

“Thank you Colonel, Fort Superiority out.”

Governor-General Tam turned off the vid-screen and then turned to her command staff.

“No help is coming. We have to hold the line here. I want a full command staff meeting here in two hours. I see no reason why we will not win this battle. Our command center is just as good as Sparta Commands and our soldiers are highly trained as well. We will win this battle and show SSCAT that we know how to fight!”

The command staff immediately broke up and went about the process of preparing for the meeting. They understood the consequences of the upcoming battle and were confident. Survival, life and death survival was a great motivator.

*~*~*~*

The Hive, MY 2131

“And how would you increase energy production?” First Citizen Yang asked the assembled People’s Representatives. A few of the junior members started to answer, then thought better of it.

After an awkward moment of silence the most senior People’s Representative to survive, Maon Shirn, voiced his opinion. “First Citizen, there are a number of ways to increase energy production, and almost all of them require terraforming. If the question is, how can we increase energy production in rainy areas used for farming, then we can say with assurance that a solar collector is required. They take a long time to construct, and there needs to be at least a thousand meters of elevation to get a return that is commiserate to the time. In non-farmed areas a forest is the most likely source of energy. Other natural sources are rivers, of course.” He paused, realizing he had given more of an essay than a short answer appropriate for this meeting.

Yang’s hooded eyes locked him in his gaze. “And what do you recommend, People’s Representative Shirn?” he asked. There was a veil of warning in his voice. It was carefully crafted, and only the most astute and experienced would notice it.

Maon Shirn noticed it right away, and answered immediately. “A solar collector, First Citizen.”

“An excellent choice, Representative Shirn. See to it personally,” Yang said.

Maon gave a shallow bow and sat down, and he gave silent thanks he had been let off so easily for his mistake.

*~*~*~*

23 sectors south of Sparta Command – SPARTA 2131

Captain Iverson slowly rolled over to her back and looked up at the sky. She could barely see it through the dense jungle like foliage. Her eyes were barely able to focus and her brain felt like it had been hit with a thousand volts of electricity.

“Captain please drink this.”

A canteen was pushed into her mouth and she sipped the cool water and then her re-breather mask was put back on.

“Where are we?” Iverson croaked.

“Captain I just woke up myself a few minutes ago but I did see the tactical readouts on our command rover. We are nearly 12 sectors away from our last position and we are nearly 23 sectors south of our nearest base.” Sergeant Matherson reported.

My God! 23 sectors! It would take them a lifetime to get back to civilization. How on Gods earth would she ever be able to keep the recon unit together after this? It had been her idea to activate the strange device and now this.

“Captain I know what you are thinking, I can see it on your face and let me say I am sure the unit will not hold you responsible. Orders are orders: investigate every strange anomaly and determine its nature or purpose. Who could have expected this?”

“I know Sergeant but the simple fact remains we have no where near the supplies to get us back home. If we “live off the land” it will take us twice as long.” Captain Iverson slammed her fist down on the ground and then slowly stood up with the help of her regimental sergeant.

“Captain we will get back, you will see that we get back. All of us women have faith in you. You will get us home.”

Iverson merely nodded and then said. “Go help the others.”

Sergeant Matherson saluted and she sprinted away to the next rover.

Damn! This was not supposed to happen. 23 sectors! She might as well be on the other side of the world. She stood there for several more minutes and then decided it was time to call SSCAT and let them know the bad news. She could already hear them know demanding that she turn tail and move back to Spartan territory double quick. That was one order her myrmidon soldiers would follow to the letter.

**Hydro** · April 30, 2004, 20:39

Western Sea, MY 2132

The ponderous Unity transport pulled up beside the anomaly. It had given off intense magnetic readings from over two sectors away, and orders from The Hive had finally come through to risk investigation.

Now that they were within visual range Captain Sihn was not so sure that investigating the anomaly was a good idea. It was clearly not a Unity pod at all. The anomaly was, in fact, an ancient and pitted metal island approximately 50 meters in diameter. While it was in the water it did not respond to wave action; waves washed around or over it, and the metal island did not move. The entire surface was encrusted with the detritus of hundreds or thousands of years, so much so that initially it looked like a promontory or a remnant reef. In fact, they would have avoided it as a navigational hazard to their ship if it hadn’t had the intense magnetic signature that even pulled their compass needles toward the ‘island’.

The obvious age and the signature indicated it was alien, and that gave the captain cold shivers. Their ship was seaworthy, but it had nothing to defend itself if the need arose. And, they were also a long way from home.

Slowly, so slowly, the ship neared its goal. The metal island grew slightly larger with each passing minute. Captain Hussein stood at the helm and his five crew members stood at their stations at the engines and navigational controls, waiting.

A wave of fear touched his mind, and Hussein thought of the dreaded mindworms he had seen in the educational vids before they left his warren Seat of Proper Thought. Maybe this was the same, but at sea? Was such a thing possible? This was an alien world, after all, and they had only explored a tiny portion of it. It was said that the mindworms touched your mind, paralyzing humans with fear and then swarmed, consuming your flesh as you still breathed, be were consumed as you felt every last tendril and minute bite of your flesh.

Query…activate.

Captain Sihn’s head jerked to the side. What was that?

Field: coherent, ordered. Activation protocol initiated.

“James,” he yelled. “Did you hear something?”

His Number One nodded his head and swallowed hard. “Yes, sir. A voice in my head.”

Imprinting: initiate. Identify hierarchy. Initiate.

The captain felt a white stab of pain, and he let out an involuntary scream. Images filled his head: metal monstrosities, beams of searing death, alien thoughts and a language he that reeked of nightmares. He fell to the floor, screaming as he collapsed. He felt the agony. Just like the vids!!

Then the pain was gone. He breathed hard, trying to clear the fog from his mind, which felt like it was swathed in a suffocating dense fog. He vaguely heard the voices of his crew, who were bent over him and asking if he was all right. They seemed far away and insubstantial. He saw his own arm and hand reach out to them and grasp James’ outstretched hand.

Then there was another commotion and James looked up, and quickly scrambled away. The others ran this away and one stumbled over Hussein, seemingly in slow motion. They were yelling to each other, frantic. Chaos.

But the captain understood. The fog was lifting. He stood up, and looked toward the metal island. It had opened; that was the cause of his crew’s fear. The encrustation of millennia shattered and sloughed away, cascading into the sea and creating a white froth as it exploded into the waiting water. A dark portal was revealed, and there was movement from within.

While his crew continued to panic the captain smiled and walked the helm. He gave a shrill, piercing whistle and succeeded in getting the crews’ attention. Their discipline was admirable since they almost immediately stopped running and looked toward him.

“It has talked to me,” the captain said.

The crew was almost motionless, but their eyes were drawn to the motion from the metal pod. Rending and tearing of metal erupted, and more encrustation was jarred loose. Dull booming echoed from the disintegrating pod.

There was a pause as the captain tried to find the words. It was so hard to pierce the images, find a context. He struggled and finally found something he knew his crew could visualize.

“It emerges, like a butterfly.”

There was another pause.

“No,” he continued. “Not a butterfly. A wasp. With a very, very large sting.”

The captain was silent, and so was the crew. Their gaze was fixed on the dark opening. There was more rending, and sheets of metal at least a half meter thick were pealed away from the pod, rising like a petal from an opening flower. A metal monster was emerging, a thing of nightmares. Tendrils and multi-jointed legs ripped the metal husk that surrounded as if were paper. In moments it had obliterated its metal tomb, seeing the light of day for the first time in a hundred thousand years. Its ovoid body swiveled, and it looked at the fragile Unity transport. Tendrils and weapons swiveled to lock the bobbing hull within its sights.

Orders: needed. it said to the amazed crew.

The captain wasn’t amazed. Not now. He simply smiled. He activated the impeller and adjusted the tiller to steer the boat toward the shattered alien pod, and the waiting battle ogre.

“First Citizen Yang will be most pleased.”

*~*~*~*

One sector west of Fort Survivalist – SPARTA 2132

“Open it!”

The young female sergeant carefully lifted the plastic like sheet and dropped it on the ground. The command staff quickly looked down into the cavity to find a mysterious object. It was hourglass shaped but it had numerous tubes exiting and entering the device and it had a large glass like orb mounted in the front.

“What the hell is it?” Captain Seaholm asked. Jill Seaholm was the commander of the 1st heavy cavalry impact regiment and her task had been to search out the strange area just west of Fort Survivalist.

“Well Captain it gives off energy in many wavelengths. For right now we are okay but long term exposure could be deadly.” Lieutenant Somersby reported as she continued to scan the device with her sensor pack.

“Well, lets get it out and packed up at once. I want it sent back to either SSCAT or a nearby base so it’s safe.”

“Yes Captain.” They all replied in unison.

Seaholm moved back as her subordinates quickly had the other members of the 1st heavy cavalry regiment reach down and pull it out. It was very heavy it turned out and it had taken nearly everyone in the regiment to get it out even with the help of ropes.

It was time to get moving. They had to get back to the base to provide security until the garrison unit was up and running. Right now they were still training and getting their equipment sorted out. Once the garrison was ready her unit would be turned loose to explore the area to the west and on to glory!

*~*~*~*

Northern territory, MY 2133

Warren reviewed the construction of the inner hatch of the out perimeter just in time to see the soon-to-be Base Supervisor arrive. He snapped to attention. In sections were never pleasant, and Citizen Michelle Holm was a stern taskmaster.

“Status,” she barked.

“Perimeter defense complete, and first level dormitory warrens and manufacturing will be complete within two weeks. Command and observation facilities have not yet been approved…”

“What?” she asked in a soft, deadly voice.

Warren stood his ground. He had protocol on his side, this time. “Design changes were issued by the People’s Representative Committee at The Hive two days ago, Base Supervisor Holm. The directive was to stop work to incorporate improvements in the observation and control consoles. There was an added…examination room.”

Michelle smiled at that. There had been rumors that an ‘examination room’ would become standardized, and available to all police units. The latest in interrogation techniques and equipment would be provided, of course. Already, being told you were to be taken to the ER made most Citizens blanch. No one stopped the gossip, since it only aided in the ability of the police forces to control a restive populous by instilling a moderate amount of fear in their every day lives.

“Very good. Carry on,” she said, and walked away.

As ordered, Warren went back to work, delighted that the encounter with Base Supervisor Holm had gone reasonably well. Maybe the news of the new examination room had put her in a good mood. Regardless, every bit of good fortune had to be taken and cherished. There would be precious little of that in the days ahead.

*~*~*~*

Five sectors east of Sparta Command – SPARTA 2133

“Can you believe it Captain?”

Captain Iverson slowly walked among the trees glancing up to see the large branches block the sun. It was amazing Iverson thought, simply amazing. One of the agricultural pods that detached from Unity must have crashed here and scattered their contents in this sector. In the 30+ turns that humanity had landed on this planet the trees had expanded and claimed four full sectors now.

“We will have to scout this entire area. I am sure the Colonel and SSCAT will want a full reconnaissance of this area. The resources alone this area will generate will more than justify our efforts. I can only hope that there is a good colony site nearby.” Iverson replied.

Captain Iverson and her executive officer continued to walk through the pine forest in wonder.

Research lab #1, Fort Survivalist

“It’s a data storage device for sure but it also has the most advanced technology we have seen to date. It can generate intense electrical fields that can be used to generate electricity and in this area it has the remarkable ability to transmute or refine ores to create metals. It is simply the most wonderful object I have ever seen in my life.” The chief scientist for Fort Survivalist, John Becker remarked as he watched a group of his scientists hook up more sensors to the device.

“Doctor Becker you need to download that data if you can.” The vid-screen announced. Becker turned to the screen to see the face of a very annoyed Colonel Corazon Santiago.

“Colonel we lack the data processing capabilities to do that. We have the plans and capabilities to construct such a center but until we do this data is locked away from us.”

Santiago was clearly frustrated at this news but she knew there was little she could do.

“Do your best, Santiago out!”

The vid-screen went dead.

Dr. Becker turned back to inspect the completed work by his team and then studied the readouts. Nothing. No input at all. It was clear that they lacked the technical skills and instruments to penetrate the device. Oh, well, there was still other ways and methods to use but it would more time consuming and it would annoy the Colonel even more. Perhaps Becker thought that might not be a bad idea after all.

*~*~*~*

Manufacturing Warrens, MY 2134

The construction of their sixth base had put First Citizen Yang in a surprisingly positive mood. Normally dour and taciturn, and always reserved, First Citizen Yang was actually speaking with the People’s Representative, and inquiring about the minute items in their lives and troubles in keeping their charges in line.

He worked the crowd like an old pro. A small cluster of men and women would form, and Yang would casually walk up to its perimeter. He would listen for a moment, then edge closer. After a few minutes he would make a casual comment during a pause, and the comment seemed to fit in perfectly. There was not hint that his interaction was a performance, or that it was an act. A few of the younger People’s Representatives, two of which had been born on Chiron, spoke with the First Citizen in an animated fashion. Yang invariably took on their body language, eliciting a strong positive response in the man or woman, and those who listened.

It was a subtle by play, and the more experienced or more astute understood it for what it was: a masterful way of finding the unwary, unfit, unwilling, or uncooperative within the group. Even those that knew the game played along, of course – to do otherwise would be to ruin Yang’s game, and he would not look kindly on that. Oh no, not at all.

*~*~*~*

Spartan Battle Manual, Chapter Five “On Democracy” – SPARTA 2134

I have been asked over the past few turns on the possibility of reorganizing our society, or political system to more closely resemble a democracy. I want to make the following statement clear for all that read it. I am not against democracy but I am against a universal form of democracy. I will now illuminate that response.

First, I would argue that only those democracies where the “popular” participation was limited to those who fully grasped the issues and had a vested “interest” in the success of that society work. The Greece from of democracy lasted for nearly a thousand years in total in one variety or another. The form of universal democracy practiced by the United States of America listed barely three hundred years. I would also contend the democracy practiced by the United States failed during the middle 20th century. By the early 21st century only 28% were voting and of that percentage 15% determined the outcome of that election. However, in reality the top 6% of the society actually determined the selection of leaders and the political agenda by means of wealth. I find this form of democracy an abomination.

Democracy should only be trusted in the hands of those few that risk their lives in the defense of their nation. If you are willing to secure the freedom of your nation by the sacrifice of your nation has earned the right to determine its course. So when the time is right within our society I will convene a forum to determine the proper structure of government.

Once a person has completed a tour of military service equal to 20 turns of duty will be granted the prominent role of citizen of the state. All other persons within society will be know as civilians, including, those who are currently in the military. All civilians will have special protected status in legal matters and will enjoy certain rights, duties and privileges. Just as one of the great documents produced by the Americans said: “The right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” will be protected by law. Civilians will be allowed to own property and live prosperous lives but the fate of the nation will be left in the hands of those who see the pursuit of a greater duty more important than simple economic pleasures.

So in the following sections I will give a detailed review of the form of political system I will support. It will also include a list of duties, obligations and rights each “citizen” of the state will enjoy.

*~*~*~*

Manufacturing Warrens, MY 2135

Base Supervisor Michelle Holm adjusted her breathing mask. Although she was used to wearing it for long periods of time she was not used to wearing it during a full-fledged storm. Already the winds were almost 30 kilometers per hour, and there was no protection on this open plain.
She knew the person standing next to her, engineer Warren Adams, was even less happy about it. He had many duties to attend to, and drones to supervise, and going on this sight seeing tour would not lessen his duties. Most he could not assign to underlings, so they just accumulated, making for an unpleasant return. That suited Michelle, however, since it was in the interests of the People to test each and every Citizen, and to demand that they contribute to the best of their ability, and beyond if society required it. If the engineer did not perform than he would be retrained, or replaced.

They stood looking at the monolith. A former crew had just located it, and it looked almost identical to every other monolith they had found. The language on the monolith was as opaque as when they had first been discovered over 30 years ago. That, however, was the least of Michelle’s interests, and she was sure there were People’s Scientists working on that problem when more applied issues weren’t being addressed. Her concern was resources, and this monolith would supply them in abundance. That was to her base’s benefit, and to the benefit of The Hive.

Very little in the way of communication was possible in the wind, which would soon be joined with a downpour that was drenching the hills west of them. This was on the windward side of the mountain range and was blessed with copious amounts of precipitation. All the better. Still, Warren pointed to the small pod of worker that were collecting the nutrient lode, and the minute energy pods, that laced the site. They were found in abundance only around a monolith. No one knew why, but they did not turn down the resources, either.

Michelle nodded, and then turned toward her head engineer. She gestured that they would have to return. It was four hours until dark and they had a long hike back to the base. The road was not too far away, which was a good thing since a sector was a large distance, even in good weather.

*~*~*~*

SSCAT center, Sparta Command – SPARTA 2135

“Okay when can the next two colony pods leave?”

“Colonel the pods from Sparta Command and Blast Rifle Crag will leave within the week. We were able to speed up production by running three full shifts around the clock. Blast rifle crag will begin building another pod almost immediately but the question is Colonel what about Sparta Command?” Master Technician Smith reported as he handed out a detail report on the production status.

“Might I make a suggestion Colonel?” Governor General Walked asked as she stood up and walked over to the main display board.

“Go on Walker.” Santiago replied as she leaned back to observe. Walker pinned a large sheet of paper to the board, then another then another. Each one had elaborate plans and diagrams for a large power control station of some sorts.

“I would suggest we build a special project. Currently we have the means to enhance our energy systems here at Sparta Command by building an advanced control and distribution center. With this energy we can increase our ability to advance our projects and scientific research. As it stands now we are dedicating nearly 80% of our total energy production to labs and testing facilities.” Walker sat down as everyone in the room studied the plan

“What if our scientist discovers some other area that would be more worthy of these resources? Major West asked.

“We will build modular systems for the most part leaving only the most highly specific parts and components to the very end. Should we need to reallocated our resources I would see no reason we would could not do so.”

“I want a heavy infantry regiment built first before you begin this project. Our heavy impact cavalry regiment is off supporting our new base at Fort Survivalist so that only leaves the recon/garrison unit here to protect this base and my personal myrmidon guards. That is not sufficient. Build the equipment for the infantry and train them and then you could build this project. Commandant Fong do you have enough recruits for another infantry regiment here at Sparta?” Santiago asked as she turned towards Commandant Fong.

“Yes, barely. They will be young but by the time the equipment is built they will be ready.” Fong replied quickly as studied her notebook.

“Good. Meeting dismissed.”

**Hydro** · April 30, 2004, 20:41

Manufacturing Warrens, MY 2136

“And how is the completion of the recycling tanks proceeding?” Base Supervisor Michelle Holm asked.

Warren was busy helping his crew move some conduit into place and could not let his attention waver. It would irritate Citizen Holm, but that was to be expected. Everything irritated the good base commander.

There was a satisfying ‘clink’ and the conduit snapped into place. His crew immediately started up the arc welder to braze the connection, just in case. It was an example of over engineering, perhaps, but there would be hell to pay if the combined recycled debris of the base contaminated the food supply. After a moment Warren turned the job over to his foreman and stood up to address a steaming Citizen Holm.

“I see your work is too important to answer a simple question,” she stated. The tone of her voice was acidic, even if her face was impassive.

“It is delicate work, Citizen,” he replied, glossing over her honorific. It was another very subtle jab, but well within the bounds of proper addresses for Hive society. After all, if the great leader Sheng-ji Yang was addressed as Citizen, how could any mere worker object to be addressed as the same? “And it would be a waste to the People if the supplies from the Unity pod were squandered. My efforts, and those of my crew, and geared to the benefit of the People, and we will ensure that effort is not wasted.” He smiled inwardly. That was almost perfect. He may even get the hang of this political crap, after all.

Michelle just sniffed and chose to ignore his little speech. “And how is your progress?”

“Almost finished,” he replied. “The major elements of materials reprocessing have been laid down, and the waste conduits are complete. This conduit goes to the Feeding Den, and will provide much needed nutrients to the People. Primary reprocessing removes valuable materials, which are shunted via conveyor to the manufacturing warren on third level. Remaining materials are combusted, providing energy.”

Warren paused as he noticed Michelle getting impatient. She didn’t want an update, just an answer. Very well. “It will be complete in eight days, Citizen.”

That seemed to satisfy the Base Supervisor. ‘Advise my Second of your progress, and ensure there is no deviation from your schedule. Understood?”

“Yes, Citizen,” he replied as he wiped the largest accumulations of packing grease off his forearms.

She chose to grace him with another moment of her infamous icy stare, then turned on heel and left.

Good riddance, Warren thought to himself. Then he got back to work.

*~**~*

Office of Commandant Fong, Sparta Command – SPARTA 2136

“What do you mean it is okay!” Fong yelled at the young cadet.

“Commandant if I had not been caught no one would have known. I have been taught that I should adapt, improvise and overcome. That is what I did. I accomplished the course in record time by thinking “out of the box”. If I had not been caught I might have set a new academy record that would stand forever.” Cadet Santiago replied in a calm but with a hint of pride in his voice.

“Cadet I think you failed to realize what you are saying. I know the importance of creative thinking but the rules were set and you broke them.” Fong fired back.

“Colonel Santiago would not agree with you Commandant. In Chapter 6 of the Spartan Battle Manual she clearly states and I quote “In all matters relating to war nothing should be overlooked as impractical. War demands the utmost in creative thought and planning and every general that has adopted this type of thinking has been victorious. Those leaders that have failed to understand this are defeated.” Santiago answered back his voice full of conviction.

“Cadet the fact remains that during training you have to learn that there are rules and some of those rules can not be broken. One month of barracks detention with extra duty and one rank demotion. Dismissed!”

Cadet Sanchez saluted quickly and held it until Fong returned his salute and then did a quick turn and left the room. As the door closed a familiar face appeared as the door closed.

“Did you get into trouble?”

“What would my sister care if I did or not. You should be happy now that your record on the obstacle course is restored and mine is taken down.”

“I was at first but then I thought about it and I realized you were right. That section of the course had no markings just the path. Everyone just went down that path after the wall obstacle never even considering the possibility of just turning left and going to pole. You cut nearly 10 minutes off of my time by doing that. I would never have considered it.” She thumped her brother in the arm as a sign of good will. The twins only looked alike in the face but their physical appearance was as night was to day. Many people thought the sister was the older of the two by perhaps even two years.

“Well I bet someone else would have thought of it in time.”

“I doubt it. You give yourself too little credit. For over 30 turns everyone just kept going down that path for no reason other than that it was there. You were on the course just two times and the second time through you find the solution. It is no wonder you got staff training assigned to you next year and I got field.”

“I would rather do field.” He said glumly.

“Perhaps but you eat better, lets go to lunch.”

*~*~*~*

The Hive, MY 2137

Deirdre’s face looked pained. “I’m sorry, Sheng-ji. If you had told me before I could have arranged to trade our technology, but now that you’ve duplicated ours it looks like we both lose out. We’ll have to keep in better contact in the future.”

Yang nodded his head at this, but didn’t let his own disappointment show. It would be a long time before the next breakthrough. Each accomplishment added to the repertoire of abilities, but the easy to understand came first. Others that were more complicated and time consuming were later.

“Agreed, Lady Skye,” Yang said. He thought her title was a bit archaic, but if that was what her Council had agreed to then who was he to judge? Now, anyway.

“I’ve loaded my world map, and I was just informed we got yours, also. Call when you want. I can always make time!” Deirdre said. Her voice was rich and a bit sultry, but always friendly.

“My thanks, as always. I will try to contact you at greater frequency,” he said.

Then the screen went blank.

That did not make the problem go away, however. It was critical to expand The Hive’s scientific output. They were keeping even with the Gaians, but that was not saying much. They had half the bases The Hive did, and much in the way of appealing territory.

Alternative plans would have to be made. More bases were to stop production of colony pods and work on infrastructure, in particular recycling tanks. There were only three recycling tanks at Hive bases; more were desperately needed. More forests would be required, and solar collectors.

There was so much to do, and limited resources. They would have to be used very efficiently.

*~*~*~*

One sector northwest of Sparta Command, SPARTA 21237

“What do you mean we are stuck again!”

“Governor-General Ash the fungus has clogged the treads again, just like before. The colony pod is stuck.”

Governor-General Ash, the first male Governor-General appointed was not a happy man today. Ever since leaving Sparta Command his trip had been plagued with misfortune. Shortly after leaving his “promised” escort was re-ordered to continue their scouting mission leaving the colonists unprotected. Now after a full turn of trying to break through the fungus fields they were still stuck. If they did not get through soon then he would have to request additional supplies for the colonists since they only brought enough food for four turns.

“Okay do your best and report back to me as soon as the crawler’s tracks are clean.” The young mechanic saluted him and then quickly ran back to the other technicians.

Ash surveyed the terrain that had become all too familiar to him. Many of the colonists had “carved” out small pockets among the fungal patches and had built shelters for them to live in. It gave them more room rather than “hot bunking” in the crawler. Just beyond the shelters to the front Ash saw another group of colonists with shovels digging away at the fungus. It was a constant battle with the fungus. If the colonists did not go out daily to dig up the fungus the colony pod would have been consumed by it.

This particular fungus patch covered nearly a full sector but it also extended along a north-south line for nearly eight sectors. It was the barrier that blocked the ridgeline of the great mounting range to the west. Ash was still not pleased with the colony site selected for him. On the western side of the colony site was an area that had been named “the barrens”. The barrens was a mountainous area that resembled the Gobi desert on earth. To the east was a large fungus field and to the south, the only hospitable land was a large pine forest. On in the north was their any “rich” land for use.

Ash slowly began to walk back to the colony pod and he fully expected a call from SSCAT demanding a progress report. At this point he could only pray that the colony pod would make it through tomorrow.

*~*~*~*

Hole of Aspiration, MY 2138

“It was indeed most fortunate, First Citizen,” Base Supervisor von Welling stated. “This Unity pod also contained the resources to complete a recycling tank, which will give a much needed boost to our food, industrial, and energy output.”

Yang said nothing, but simply observed the work crew that was busy disassembling the Unity pod. The pod was highly weathered from its almost four decades exposed to the elements, but it had been intact. Its shell had been partially dissembled and a improvised truck was being loaded with the heavier components. A second crew of workers was working over the left.

That got the First Citizen’s attention. “The second crew is not working on the recycling tanks. What are they doing?”

“Well,” the base supervisor started, “it seems the pod broke through some xenofungus when it landed, spurring a new type of growth we haven’t seen before. It is dominated by chlorophyll very similar to that of earth, as opposed to the Chiron chlorophyll that reflects red light, giving it a pinkish hue. All reports indicate it is exceptionally nutritious to humans, which is in stark contrast to other native life. Our best estimates are that it could provide fully three times the nutrient output of any other sector in this area.”

Yang allowed himself a small smile. “Very good, Base Supervisor von Welling. Please send a report directly to my office when the results are complete.”

The middle aged man straightened, clearly delighted at the honor. “Yes, First Citizen. It shall be done!”

Yang then walked away, and was soon joined by three flanking security guards and a bevy of attendants. He immediately started getting updates form his assistants, and he replied in a clipped verbal shorthand to ensure maximum efficiency.

There was more good news, too. Manufacturing Warrens had investigated another Unity pod, but this one turned out to be breached. Underneath, however, was a mineral lode that would be extremely useful in providing raw materials for their fledgling industrial capabilities.

Yang checked his breather out of habit and saw that it was functioning adequately. It would only take 15 minutes of breathing the Chiron atmosphere before the first effects started, mainly the impairment of judgment. Later more life threatening effects would start. Therefore, Yang programmed himself to check his breather every 15 minutes. That was only logical, after all.

*~*~*~*

SSCAT Center, Sparta Command – SPARTA 2138

Colonel Corazon Santiago looked up from her desk as Captain Clinton, the intelligence officer and Master Technician Smith walked in. They myrmidon guard dressed in flat gray synth-armor nodded to Santiago as she closed the door behind them. The “nod” was their code that they would continue to monitor communications even when the door was closed.

“What was so important that you had to see me right away?”

“Colonel what I am about to show is simply amazing.” Captain Clinton replied as she laid a thick folder on the desk. “The photos inside have only been seen by a few people and of course the 1st recon regiment.”

Santiago showed no reaction but it was clear from the body language from both Smith and Clinton whatever was in this folder had rocked them to their very core. Santiago opened the folder and began to examine each photo. No one said a word while Santiago looked at each photo waiting for her first words.

“What are these things?” She asked incredibly.

“We have nicknamed them “bore holes” Colonel. The shafts are nearly a mile in diameter and from what we can tell nearly reach the lowest sections of the outer crust of Chiron. There are machines for generating massive amounts of energy and robotic equipment that would allow very deep mining to harvest the best ores possible. Simply put Colonel these things, and there are three of them, are the equivalent of the Grand Canyon on earth to a child’s sandbox hole. Once we can operate the equipment we will be able to pull out massive amounts of energy and mineral resources.” Smith said as he laid a schematic on her desk that showed a cross-section of the borehole.

“You said “once we can operate the equipment” what does that mean?”

“Colonel we simply lack the protective equipment that would allow us to go that deep in the earth. We do not know how to operate the alien machines to use them and even if we could we have no way of ever servicing them. However, we can utilize about a third of the production capacity of the mines based on using our current mining equipment.” Smith replied and yet again put another piece of paper on her desk detailing the mining production levels.

“Can we build a base nearby, a mining base?” Santiago asked absently as she studied the new data.

“The entire area is arid and barren and devoid of life. I know suspect that the boreholes caused much of the destruction of the area that we now call the “barrens”. However, there is one area, here.” Captain Clinton pointed at a spot on the map that was in the folder she had give Santiago. “This sector is arid but it has a rich oasis that could support a colony. With our new recycling tanks the base could support a modest population that was completely dedicated to mining and energy production.”

Santiago studied the site and immediately agreed with Clinton’s assessment.

“Draw up plans with Smith for our next colony pod to deploy there. I want access to those mines and those resources!”

*~*~*~*

The Hive, MY 2139

It would take years, years, to complete the terraforming at Manufacturing Warrens and Hole of Aspiration to take advantage of the mineral and nutrient lode. The territory those unique features were on was arid and otherwise useless. At least there was no dissention among the People’s Representatives as to what type of terraforming to place there. Forests were the only answer. And building the solar collector for Seat of Proper Thought would take years, too. It was a good thing each had two terraformers allocated to it. There were three others doing work, but there was so much to do, and so much land to bend to his will.

The First Citizen forced himself to stop dwelling on such topics. Discipline was a asset, and having a focused mind a discipline a virtue, but letting both descend into obsession would cause blindness and obscure reality.

That was unacceptable.

Long ago Yang had used meditation to reflect, and to re-order priorities, to think and even observe. Now he felt the need to meditate. How long had it been? Weeks? No. It had been 11 days. That was much too long, and this confusion was his body telling him to restore order.

Yang got up from his desk, sat down in the corner of his small warren, crossed his legs with the base of his feet up, and laid forearms on his upturned feet. Slowly he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Then another. And another.

*~*~*~*

SSCAT Center, Sparta Command – SPARTA 2139

Colonel Corazon Santiago was not pleased. Earlier in the day both command staffs had failed to achieve any sort of success on the two simulations she had given them. The first scenario had been a full-scale alien invasion and the counter-attack. The second scenario was the discovery of other Unity survivors who did not want to join the Spartan Federation, willingly. Both training exercises had bogged down and in the first one the alien forces had stormed every city and the Unity survivors had held off the Spartan attacks.

“I will be back in the morning and we will run these battle drills again!” She yelled at them. The large SSCAT center was filled with every member of the day and night command staffs as they listened intently to her. “I want to make this clear I find these results unacceptable in the highest degree. I will go over in detail tonight the results and see where we can improve and I am sure there will be lots of areas we can but let me make this clear that even if these are drills we need to take them seriously. When I see lieutenants working harder than captains and when I see corporals working harder than lieutenants then I have to ask myself why do these people have these jobs.”

“Colonel?” A young female sergeant spoke up shocking many of the people in the room. “Colonel if I could ask a question?”

“Speak freely!” Santiago fired back.

“Colonel I do not want to speak for everyone but I the problem I had with the drill is that every time we made a decision or moved troops the enemy seemed to know exactly what we were doing and countered it. I would classify these war games as a no win scenario.”

“You are correct, they were no win scenarios I designed them that way and you are the first person to point that out, even my senior command staff failed to notice it. What is you name?”

“Sear gent Frost.”

“Well lieutenant Frost!” A buzz broke out immediately in the room but a quick glance by Santiago stopped it from spreading. “Every soldier has to face the no one scenario what I had hoped to see was a new and creative idea or solution to them. I do not believe in the no-win scenario and neither should you. We will play these games again in the morning and I fully expect that at least one of you will have an idea to beat them. You are dismissed.”

Santiago watched them leave and kept her eye on the new Lieutenant as several of her friends patted her on the back. Basically She was disappointed that only one person, a mere sergeant was able to figure out the trick she had played on them. If she could do it to them then perhaps the enemy could do it to them? She rubbed her temples again and then picked up the computer data sheets on the war games, work to do and then do it all over again.

**Hydro** · April 30, 2004, 20:44

Hive, MY 2140

“Momma, where are we going?” Liz asked as she looked over to a large matronly woman in a work smock. The woman didn’t answer and tried her best to give her a smile.

The young woman knew better than to ask again.

They walked down a corridor together, hand in hand. The floor was relatively even, but the left wall and the ceiling still bore the rough cuts workers almost 40 years ago had made to scrape this passage out of the raw rock. There were chisel marks, since that was all many had, and occasionally marks of a pneumatic hammer, all evidence of hard toil and sweat. Many of those miners, banished to hard and unremitting labor in the early years of The Hive, were on longer among the living. The casualty rate among those condemned to hard labor by the People’s Representatives for indiscretions or errors in ideology had been high. Many years later the walls and ceiling were still rough-hewn. There were other more important tasks that demanded the labor of the Citizens of The Hive.

Always there was evidence of people. Down the corridor the right was Communal Bay Three, and just down from that the Feeding Den. On the level just below this were the Secondary Manufacturing Center and the recycling tanks. It was efficient to shunt the newly dead and other refuse into the tanks so they could be recycled to feed the living and the engines of industry. Citizen Yang had said that it was every Citizens final duty to go into the tanks, a last service to The Hive.

The woman and her daughter continued down the corridor. A police brigade stepped in behind them, and the woman took no notice. The little girl tried not to, but it was hard not to notice them. Their boots echoed with series of sallow booms as they tramped through the hall. Ever so slightly they picked up the pace, forcing the woman and her charge to pace ever faster. It was subtle, and indirect, but inevitable. They hardly even noticed the change, but they did know that they were uncomfortable. A shiver of fear grew. The woman said nothing.

At last they came to a door, a wide double door. It was blue and had emblazoned on the front People’s Security. The police stepped into place directly behind them and brandished their stun sticks in front, forming a cordon that encircled them.

Wide eyes looked up at the matronly woman. “Momma?” she breathed.

The door opened. It was dark inside.

The woman disengaged her hand from her daughter and stepped to the side. The men behind her descended on the girl, clamping their gloved hands on her shoulders. They gave her an inexorable push.

A moment later the woman stood alone in the hallway. She dared not breathe. She dared not the even let a tear well in her eyes.

That would not become a Citizen of The Hive.

*~*~*~*

Command Bunker, Training Camp – SPARTA 2140

“Governor-General Ash!”

“Yes Colonel, your transmission is clear now. We are up and running now, Training Camp Base is fully operational.” Ash yelled at the receiver so Santiago could hear him. It had been a long day getting the communications array working correctly but they had got it working just five hours late.

“Governor-General you have an awesome responsibility on your shoulders. You are the first male Governor-General in the Spartan Federation and there are many who still feel that only females should lead our citizens. I do not agree with that all. I believe you have the right stuff to make your post successful. However, you need to understand that failure is not an option.” Santiago stated with little emotion in her voice.

“Thank you Colonel, I think.” Ash replied instantly regretting his quick response.

“Ash you shouldn’t think just do, remember that. I do the thinking for the Spartan Federation and you carry out policy. Is that clear!”

“Perfectly Colonel!” Ash replied smartly.

The screen went blank.

Ash rubbed his face and let out a big whoosh of air. Damn his tongue he thought. Why couldn’t he just keep his mouth shut. He knew Santiago had gone out on a limb to give him this post. It was surprising that in such a short amount of time people could so quickly shift their thinking from what they believed in for a lifetime to something new. Ash understood that the children of Chiron, of the Spartan Federation would grow up never knowing “assuming” that women were the weaker sex. Now everyone believed that even though males might be initially stronger training and exercise made everyone equal in the long run. The analogy everyone now uses is even though the ox is strong it is slow while the lion is faster and more deadly. It was a disturbing trend that Santiago had not seen fit to disabuse people of for many turns but then all of sudden she appoints a male Governor-General.

Ash stood up and walked around the video console and into the main bunker area.

“Okay people lets get things organized now. I need a complete status of current operations and I want it now!”

*~*~*~*~*

The Hive, MY 2141

Citizen Yang sealed the Directive to the People’s Representatives and applied his DNA stamp:

All bases are to maintain a population of not less than 2000 Citizens. The only exceptions that will be allowed are frontier bases that are producing a colony pod for the expansion of The Hive.

Each base will produce a second police unit that will be used for scouting, and police duty when needed to instill order.

The People’s Representatives will assign one base to produce at least one rover to expand our exploration of Chiron

At least three additional terraformers will be constructed.

Each base will have three improved sectors, and each base will have at least one sector that provides two or more nutrients to ensure the growth of The Hive

Sensors will be constructed to provide additional protection for all existing and newly constructed bases. Priority will be given to established bases. When possible sensors will be constructed before a base is constructed.

*~*~*~*

Private quarters of Corazon Santiago, Sparta Command – SPARTA 2141

Santiago rolled over in her bed as she watched her lover leave the room to get cleaned up. For the most part since landing on this planet she had withheld her desires for the sake of her people. There was always too much to do and in the early days she was far too busy. However, when Hanna Welch walked into the command center just two weeks ago something had “clicked” between them. Hanna was a lieutenant assigned to the logistics section and was on temporary assignment to SSCAT. While she was there Santiago quickly made friends with her and during the morning hours they helped each other during their exercises. When Welch finally was reassigned back to her own command Santiago and Welch quickly became more than friends. Corazon knew the pitfalls and her own regulations about superior officers having relationships with subordinates so she waited until Hanna was out from command.

Hanna had been a small child when they had landed on Chiron and quickly adopted the Spartan lifestyle and system. She had two children already, sufficient to meet her “quota” for now as a good Spartan citizen but now she could seek our real companionship and a relationship. Santiago at times wondered how long it would last but for now it filled a small void in her life and it made the strain of command easier.

Her thoughts suddenly went back to her role as supreme commander and the decision she had to make. The recon scouts had found not one but two oasis in the barrens that could be used as possible colony sites. So now she had to decide if she would send two colony groups to leave in the desolate region for the sake of energy and minerals. It perhaps was too much to ask of even her Spartans but deep in her heart she already knew what the answer was.

“Hanna I need to tell you something.”

“Yes Corazon?” Hanna’s voice could barely be heard over the shower.

“You will be leaving soon as the new commander of the garrison for our next colony!” Corazon yelled.

“Great!” Hanna yelled back. “Where is it?”

Santiago felt a stab of pain inside her and withheld the answer for a few minutes. Santiago looked over again at her desk where the report and staff recommendations lay for the next colony pod and Hanna’s name was next on the list for a captaincy. Life and death on Chiron demanded harsh sacrifices from everyone, including Santiago.

*~*~*~*

Society Grid, MY 2142

Base Commander Sbrams listened with rapt attention, and growing horror. It was clear that the scout team, which had reported finding an unaware mindworm in the fungus to the north, was in trouble. They had standing orders to attack any mindworm they found, and were doing so.

Only something was going horribly wrong.

One of the women had started singing nursery rhymes. Another had started screaming loudly and incoherently about “My eyes! My Eyes!” All the while Expedition Leader Wiles had reported calmly as he could how he and his two functional team members had brandished their shredders and were pressing the attack. He had considered retreating but by now the worm knew they were there, and was advancing.

For the next few minutes the reporting was broken by the crunch of boots on brittle terrain, and wind and labored breathing. There were occasional curses, and sporadic staccato impacts as the shredders were fired. With each firing the team would groan as if in pain.

In the distance the singing stopped with an abrupt, piercing scream, and there was one last “My Eyes!”

A confused monologue started, and Sbrams had a very hard time understanding. It was like words had been randomly inserted into a normal sentence, resulting in almost recognizable gibberish. Through it all Wiles remained calm.

As he listened it was clear he wasn’t calm at all. His voice was a monotone, devoid of any emotion. He had emotionally shut down, and now it was clear from his monologue that his higher brain functions were shutting down, too.

There were more sounds of boots crunching through dry land, but fewer boots now. The other pairs were gone.

The running stopped, and only a faint wind was heard on the communication link. Wiles asked, “Where am I?”

That was the last, and Sbrams knew now he had a problem. There was no defender for his base, and he hoped that Manufacturing Warrens could send help. If not he and all the colonists would be dead.

*~*~*~*

Computer network control room, Fort Superiority – SPARTA 2142

“Did that fit?”

“Yes it did!” Yelled Steve as he plugged the computer relay into the board. He looked up to see his fellow co-workers standing around him.

“What?” He asked as they began to laugh.

“Steve you have got to take it easy. We are over halfway done with this network node and every time you complete a section of it you make it sound like the core is about to go on line.” Steve’s supervisor half laughed as he reached over to give him a hand up.

Steve reached out and was quickly on his feet.

“Don’t you think this is exciting?” He looked at everyone. “Within a decade we will be able to unlock the secrets of that alien device. I cannot wait to see what we might find.”

“Steve we are curious but we have been working on this project since it started, when we laid the first cables. We want to see what’s inside too but we need to get our work done here first and not make every little task sound like we have defeated a legion of aliens.” Steve’s boss finished his reply by shooing everyone back to work. “Steve just because our jobs are not as glamorous as the military does not make ours unimportant. We need to focus on our tasks and that will help build a stronger Sparta.”

“Yes sir!” Steve nearly shouted his face flushed with pride.

“Just go back to work and please keep it down to a dull roar.” Steve’s boss knew it was useless to try and talk with these new kids. They were so filled with duty, honor and loyalty that every task was like a life and death mission or something. Oh, well, he thought at least Steve worked hard, perhaps too hard, when he began to think about it. If the Governor-General came down and saw the way the “old timers” worked in comparison to the new blood there could be trouble. He had to find a way to reel these new guys in and fast.

*~*~*~*

Society Grid, MY 2143

Base Supervisor Sbrams was relieved. Manufacturing Warrens had sent their own garrison to assist in defending against the worm. Knowing there would be degenerate elements that would take advantage of the situation, Base Manager Holm had put the base on lockdown. She was matter-of-fact, and offered no word of reproach. She was practical, if a bit harsh and lacking in people skills. She had even re-directed the construction of the colony pod at Warrens, at considerable loss due to re-tooling, in order to replace their garrison and ensure the security of the People.

Their garrison was finally making its way north. The worm was working its way south. With a bit of luck the worm, likely critically damaged, would continue south and encounter the garrison. That would be the end of the worm.

The good news was that their newly constructed former was already in position, and a colony pod from Communal Nexus was making its way north. This land was fertile, and some compared it to the lush Amazon forest of old Earth. It was a rare patch of green in the otherwise desolate fungus-infested planet. No doubt the copious nutrients the lands provided would aid their growth, and the growth of the People.

There was always the chance of disaster, though. There was news that Hole of Aspiration was prototyping a rover that was to be used for exploration. Their own garrison would be finished next year, and that would provide extra security.

For the first time in months he felt some assurance they would survive. His colonists were depending on him, and the other wise leaders of The Hive, to provide for them and the People. It was his duty, and if the need arose, he knew he and others would make the ultimate sacrifice. That was the duty of every Citizen. After all, the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one.

*~*~*~*

21 sectors south of Sparta Command, The wilderness – SPARTA 2143

“Colonel Santiago this is Captain Iverson of the 2nd recon regiment. I have to report finding a alien war machine!”

The vid-screen shifted slightly as Santiago came into focus.

“Show me.” She commanded.

Iverson nodded to a female trooper with a portable vid-camera and she began to scan the alien war machine. It was 15 feet tall and it was supported on 8 legs. It had a thick armor plate of an unknown type and it mounted what appeared to be a laser cannon of some type. It had various other sensor devices that poked out of the “head”.

“Colonel the weapon you are seeing is far more powerful than even our impact cannons. I would estimates its firepower at 20 perhaps 25% greater than our impact cannons. The armor is about and beyond our synth-armor. The most unique thing about this machine is that one of my soldiers seems to be “linked” to it very a telepathic connection. Whatever she commands the machine does.” Iverson completed her brief report and waited.

“Captain you have done well. Return the war machine to SSCAT and await further orders. Santiago out!”

The screen went blank.

“What do you think Captain?”

Iverson turned to her sergeant and removed her helmet. “Who knows Sergeant? The fact that SSCAT wants us back double time is all I need to know. We can at last get our weapons upgrade and armor and then hit the field again after a little R&R. At least on the way back we will not have to worry about an attack with that thing lumbering after us.”

“To true Captain.”

The two of them turned to see the alien war machine began to move a Private Laas pointed to an area to her right.

“Why does she make hand gestures?” Iverson asked.

“Well Captain even though they are linked via their minds the war machine sometimes gets confused it seems. However the aliens were able to control these things is a mystery to me. All I know is if this is their form of tank then we are outclassed to be sure. It would take perhaps two maybe even three full infantry regiments to take this thing out. I am just damn glad we have one.”

“Yes, why would the aliens just leave this valuable piece of technology, this death machine out in the open for anyone to use?”

*~*~*~*

Society Grid, MY 2144

“Worm destroyed, Base Supervisor Sbrahms,” the grizzled veteran stated.

“The Citizens of Society Grid and all The Hive thank you, Citizen. Please accept my gratitude, and we would be pleased to host a reception in honor of your group’s bravery,” he said.

The image broke up for a moment, and then clarified showing Captain Duff apparently adjusting the controls of his transmitter. Then he looked up. “We would be pleased to attend. I estimate that we will return in approximately two weeks. An update of our schedule will be sent daily, per protocol. We will also be bringing in the Chiron Pearls for The Hive treasury.”

“Excellent. I look forward to meeting you in person.”

A wave of static washed across the grainy image, which bowed slightly. Then the transmission terminated.

Sbrahms reflected that Duff was something of a legend. He had been the original garrison when their pod landed on Chiron, and had risen from a lowly sensor technician to the senior field officer of The Hive. His leadership was exemplary, and his group always had high morale and know-how.

The error of minimal escorts would not be repeated. Scouts were now escorting the two colony pods en route to their new homes nearby, and a pair of rovers would be constructed soon. When sensors were constructed worms would have little chance, and that was a good thing.

**Hydro** · April 30, 2004, 20:46

SSCAT Center, Sparta Command – SPARTA 2144

“Summarize this for me?”

Captain Jamie Clinton had just laid a computer disc on Santiago’s desk. The disc contained her report concerning the aliens.

“Colonel it is now clear to our scientists that the “aliens” that we have been fighting are not “sentient”. Thy clearly show animal like reactions to stimulus but we should not discount their level of intelligence. Their “tactics” indicate a level of cunning similar to lower life forms on earth. However, it is very apparent that these native life forms are not the builders of the bore holes or monoliths and especially the war machine we discovered.”

“How certain are you of this?” Santiago interrupted.

“Well Colonel as certain as we can be without actually capturing one of the creatures. Based on the remains we have found from our encounters the mind worms or spore launchers have an extensive nervous system. We suspect that the creatures are not mindless but in fact have a level of intelligence similar to a dog.” Jamie replied as he reached into her briefcase to pull out some diagrams that they had made based on the autopsy.

“Put those away for now.” Santiago said as she motioned with her hand. “If these creatures are not the aliens who built the monoliths, war machine and the bore holes then where are they?”

“Colonel that is the million credit question.” Clinton somewhat laughed as she answered, a mistake the minute she did it. Santiago was not in the mood for levity, she wanted answers, and the look she fired at Clinton was not to be trifled with. A quick cough and she continued in a more serious manner. “We now suspect based on the evidence at hand that the aliens died out perhaps thousands, maybe millions of years ago.”

“How can that be?” Santiago interjected.

“Well, we can not be 100% certain but the archeological evidence is hard to dispute. The monoliths were created thousands of years ago. The bore holes even longer. The war machine surprisingly is even older than the other two. It seems as we move back in time the alien culture gets more “sophisticated” and as we move forward they abandon technology all together for unknown reasons. It is if they didn’t need these “things” anymore and relied on other methods to garner resources or fight wars. It is clear that they were very careful in closing down the bore holes as if they wanted to make sure that they did not do any further ecological damage.”

“You did not answer the question, where are they?”

“Colonel we do not know. That’s the plain truth of it. A few of the scientists I have on this special team I organized theorize that perhaps they left this world or were destroyed in some great extinction level event. However, the team did agree that the aliens are no longer in this area of Chiron.” Clinton replied hoping that this was the last question.

“You said the worms and other creatures had “dog-like” intelligence, correct?”

“Yes Colonel.”

“Well, could these attacks, the attacks from the worms be the result of a higher intelligence that is directing the worms?”

“It is possible Colonel but why would they do it if they already had access to much higher levels of technology. Though dangerous the worms are not a match for our impact rifles.” Clinton responded unsure as to where this line of questioning was going.

“You said that perhaps a cataclysmic event occurred on this planet.” Santiago asked impatiently.

“Yes.”

“Well perhaps their society collapsed and as a result the survivors lost all access, all ability to use this technology so now they rely on using these worms. I know I would do the same. We cannot discount any possibility. Until we know for sure what has happened here I am not going to “un-assume” anything. For now we will continue as we have always done. The worms and other creatures that attack us are the “foot soldiers” of the aliens. I see no reason why this statement could not fit into the facts as you have detailed. We cannot risk our survival based on unconfirmed theories. We have to assume the worst and plan from there. I will review your data. However, for now I want you to close down your project and seal all information under my personal command codes. I want all scientists to sign letters of secrecy and assign agents to monitor them.” Santiago finished by standing up, a clear sign the meeting was done.

“Thank you Colonel.” Clinton saluted which Santiago promptly returned and left the room.

Santiago waited until the door was closed and then she picked up the disc and crushed it in her hand. She then turned and dumped it into the disposal chute for classified items, consigned to the incinerator a floor below them. No, there was no need to read it. This planet was the enemy and she needed no report to tell her different.

*~*~*~*

Hole of Aspiration, MY 2145

“Citizen Yang,” the small image said, bowing slightly.

“Base Manager Stanley,” Yang replied.

“I am happy to report that the former crew that you indicated should investigate the last anomaly near us has discovered yet another nutrient lode. As you may recall, that brings the total lodes near us to three. Two have already been forested and are producing copious resources, and allowing for exemplary growth.”

Yang nodded. “Welcome news. Is the nutrient lode situated such that another base, such as Communal Nexus, could harvest these resources?”

“No, First Citizen. It is at least three sectors away, and that has been shown to be beyond the maximum range of the drones to effectively harvest resources and utilize them for the base.”

“I see,” Yang said.

“We request the advice of you as First Citizen and the People’s Representatives,” the base commander said. He had included the People’s Representatives as a courtesy since they held no real power. “Soon our growth will reach a point where extra facilities or garrisons will be needed. Our rover will be complete soon. After that point we will need to build either more garrisons or a recreation commons.”

Yang was silent for a moment. “I will recommend that that the People’s Representatives suggest that you build a garrison for policing duties. That will require the minimum time and productive potential. After that time your base will grow to at least 3000 citizens, and may begin producing colony pods. If your production is such that a colony pod will take your population below 3000 citizens then you may make the decision as to what infrastructure would best serve your needs. Is this clear?”

The base manager gave a deep bow at the waist. “Yes First Citizen. It shall be done.”

The image winked out. Sheng-ji Yang considered. This base had true potential and its resources would have to manage carefully. He made a mental note to himself to check in on the base to ensure the situation did not get out of hand. That would be inefficient, and fatal for the base manager.

*~*~*~*

Command bunker, Blast Rifle Crag – SPARTA 2145

“The riots are under control now Colonel.”

“Governor General I am ordering you to submit a full report to me in the morning detailing what went wrong. It is crucial that you complete that colony pod and get it out safely. Allowing rioting men in the streets disturbing the valuable work that must be completed is treason!”

Governor-General Maxwell rubbed her forehead and then shook her head.

“I agree with you Colonel but the workers here, the men workers, had requested better services for the work they were doing on the colony project. Several of them were hurt during an accident and we were unable to save them do to lack of medical resources. With the changes I have made we can not accommodate those concerns.” She replied quickly hoping to end the conversation.

“NO!” Santiago screamed. “You did not accommodate anyone you capitulated to them. Once you have this mess cleaned up I am ordering you to reinforce your garrison so this will not happen again. Is this clear! I want those male trouble makers identified and I will to it that they are give a trial for their crimes, no amnesty!”

“Yes Colonel I understand.”

“I really don’t think you do Maxwell so I am coming myself to clear this up and get Blast Rifle in shape. I cannot allow our key southern base to fall into such chaos. Your operations are the lynch pin for our expansion into the rich monsoon jungle area. I cannot allow your command to fall into chaos!” Santiago roared back at her.

“Yes Colonel.”

“Santiago out!”

The screen went blank none to soon for Maxwell. It was time to begin the getting the list together for Santiago and quickly. She knew that within the hour Corazon would be calling back demanding action and the names. Maxwell lamented that things had come to this. She had tried to work with the civilians, the male technicians and workers guilds but their base had grown too large with too many people demanding resources. Medicines, food and living space was on a rationed according to rank and position and more importantly sex. The garrison had adequate quarters while the workers had mere bunks made of steel. The garrison did not live in luxury by any means, that would not be the Spartan way, but they did get first choice of food and medical attention. She had righted the boat, so to speak, now she wondered if she had started something that, in time, could become a mountain of a problem.

*~*~*~*

The Hive, MY 2146

Yang put the weathered control panel on his desk. It was already hooked up to a small power source and a yellow light indicated it was operation. This small device was the only intact piece of equipment in the otherwise useless Unity pod that the garrison at Society Grid had explored. The pod itself had long ago succumbed to the crushing impact 45 years ago, and then the effects of weathering. It was hard to even tell what it might have contained.

That, however, was irrelevant because there could hardly be anything more valuable than this small device. This unit was identical to the communication panel that had provided the critical link to Deirdre Skye. Those relations had gone so well, and had been fruitful in the exchange of technology and the understanding of Chiron.

Yang could feel his pulse quicken a little, and he just as quickly activated biofeedback to get it under control. Then he activated the channel. There were a series of whistles as the yellow light changed to red, then to green.

The link was active, and Yang waited patiently. He knew that someone on the other end had set theirs to receive and that it was just a matter of time before someone noticed that it was active and that they had an incoming transmission.

Yang was content to wait.

*~*~*~*

SSCAT Center, Sparta Command – SPARTA 2146

“Maxwell finally has things in hand at Blast Rifle Crag and she completed the colony pod ahead of schedule.” Santiago said as she activated the map table display and highlighted the area around Blast Rifle Crag. “The question before us today is where do we send the pod to?”

“Colonel I think the only possible site is here.” Governor-General Walker of Sparta Command interjected quickly. “This site has the advantage of utilizing one of those monoliths and a rich and fertile sector of land near the gulf. The base would have two prime sectors of land to utilize for building a strong base.”

“Yes I would have to agree with the Governor-General as well Colonel.” Captain Jenna Michaels commented. “The base has to have ample supplies to help launch our prime initiative which is to colonize the rich southern lands to south. The monsoon jungle area is far to important to ignore.”

“I agree but the placement of the base at this sector.” Santiago pointed at the colony site. “Is out of alignment with our base placement program. The military advantages of having interlocking adjacent bases no more than 2 sectors from each create a strong defensive system. Now you are recommending to me that we throw that out!”

“Colonel, as you can clearly see the sites we would have to use to meet our defensive plan are covered in fungus. I don’t think this is too out of the plan since we have already agreed to a deviation when we decided on the colony sites in the barrens.” Governor-General Walker replied quickly. She and the other Governors had all decided that the site was the best choice at a previous meeting. The only other option would be to send the colony pod and colonists on a very long expedition to the south and that was not really a viable option.

“Why haven’t we been able to find a means yet to clear the fungus!” Santiago sternly asked as her eyes fell on Master-Technician Smith.

“Colonel I have every scientist in every base coordinating their research to solve this problem. The latest report indicates that we should achieve some “breakthrough” in solving the fungus problem within the next five turns. In addition, we should have the alien data device operational within eight turns. So we are making progress Colonel but even when we do find a method to defeat the fungus we will most likely have to build machines to do the work and once again that would take time and then they would have to be deployed and begin their work. Factoring in all of these variables, including travel time to the colony sites, we could expect the first sector to be cleared of fungus in no sooner than 25 turns.”

The news hit the assembled group like a thunderbolt. Everyone had hoped that the fungus issue would be dealt with promptly but now that idea was smashed.

“25 turns?” Santiago shook her head in disgust. “If that is correct Master-Technician then we will have to amend our plans. We simply cannot wait 25 turns for the next colony site to cleared of fungus.” Santiago turned to Governor-General Walker. “Send orders to the Governor-General Maxwell that the colony pod is to proceed to the site as chosen. We will concentrate on continuing our expansion but when these machines do become available to defeat the fungus we will switch over production and every base is to build one of them immediately.”

Everyone in the room immediately agreed to the plan but Santiago was still not pleased. Her frustration continued through the meeting and it was evident to everyone. The commander of the Spartan Federation was not a person accustomed to having to change plans or deviate from her own “playbook”. The fungus was a problem and weapons and armor and soldiers could not deal it with. They needed industrial power and equipment to eradicate it and it was something they did not have. It was the first time that a problem could not be solved by the application of military power and that was something the Santiago knew she would have to learn to live with but she did not like it.

*~*~*~*

The Hive, MY 2147

“Datajack Rose,” Yang said with a flat voice, “The Hive is pleased to make your acquaintance. Our peoples will be stronger as we share our abilities and combine our forces. Perhaps…”

Rose interrupted, “Save your speeches, and let’s cut to the chase. I’m willing to sign a treaty of friendship, but your backward and repressive society is an example of all that is the worst in human history. Out of the good for all mankind I’m willing to put aside my dislike for the society you have crafted, for now.”

Yang didn’t react. This Datajack Rose was a known commodity to him. As chief of security it has his job to know all those that worked on or were to be crew aboard Unity. Datajack Rose had been one of Morgan Construction’s programmers and how she got on board, let alone managed to become a leader in her Unity pod, was beyond him. Her profile indicated she was something of an anarchist. That was dangerous.

“Agreed,” Yang said. “Perhaps we can share information? Surely scientists of The Hive have developed technology that would be of…”

“No way,” Rose replied as she made a chopping motion with her hand. “We are not willing to share our valuable technology with you.”

“I see. And have you made contact with others from Unity?” Yang asked. “If so, The Hive would offer ample compensation for any information you may have.”

“I don’t think so. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have more important things to do.” She abruptly cut off the communication.

Yang stared at the blank screen for a moment. That had not gone nearly as well as he had hoped.

**Hydro** · April 30, 2004, 20:48

SSCATC (Supreme Spartan Command and Training Center), Sparta Command – SPARTA 2147

“Foreman Domi I see no reason at this time why we should enter into any treaty with you. There is no benefit to us.” Santiago stated firmly.

The rough looking leader of the so-called “worker’s union” looked very worried and Santiago thought he should be. Just a few weeks ago the 1st recon regiment under the command of Captain Iverson (non-cloned ) encountered a free-workers colony pod near the far southern parts of Spartan territory. The area was to the east of the rich jungle area that had just been mapped. At first the “free drones” as they called themselves were very friendly and after communication lines were established and further information was exchanged about each other the free drones began to change their tone. The initial exchange had been very rewarding for both sides, the drones received technology on recycling and the Spartans got detailed plans on recreational facilities. However, after the first exchange the Drones quickly understood whom they were dealing with and what type of people they had met, Spartans. In turn, the Spartans quickly discovered that the drones were not very advanced in any area and that their military capabilities were minimal at best.

“Surely there is something we can do or offer that might persuade you to sign a treaty of friendship?” Domi said in an almost pleading tone. “We have recently come across a large supply of energy modules from the Unity. If we were to give to you a hundred energy credits as a sign of good faith would you consider a treaty?”

Santiago studied the man's face for a minute noting the sweat beading on his forehead the thick sheen of oil in his hair. His face was unshaven and crude and doubtless his mind was the same. It was obvious though that he did have some charisma since he had forged his workers into a new “utopia” based on workers rights and ownership of production. The fools she thought, gutless fools they were.

“I will agree. Transfer the credits immediately. Santiago out.”

The line went dead.

“Alright what is our military status?” Santiago asked her assembled officers and command team.

“Colonel I am leaving at the end of this meeting to take up the forward position we had discussed earlier. I will be taking the 2nd recon regiment with me along with the 1st heavy impact cavalry regiment. In addition, I have issued orders to have the alien war machine turn around and rendezvous with the 1st recon. Once we are all on line I will complete the weapons upgrade, courtesy of our new friends the free drones. We will launch our attack with three impact armed rover regiments with support from the alien war machine. We should be ready to launch the first attack within 10 perhaps 12 turns at the latest.” Captain Jocelyn Smith finished her quick report by activating the man display in the command center that illustrated graphically her plan of attack.

“Excellent. Both Captain Smith and I worked up the plan over the past week and I think it is very sound. If we find before we launch our attack that the drones are even weaker militarily than we think then plan on having the timetable pushed up. We will upgrade the 1st recon to a heavy impact rover regiment and they in concert with the alien war machine begin the attack. The sooner we attack the better.” Santiago said with a fierce conviction in her voice.

“Colonel we just made a treaty with these people now we are planning to attack them what is the sense in that?” Master-Technician Smith asked quickly his voice firm but there was a tint of fear in it.

“Master-Technician these people have fallen under some fool. If he was so willing to give up 100 energy credits what else is he hiding from us. The sooner we unite under one banner, under one leader the sooner we will all prosper. I doubt we will have much trouble with these drones. We were able to deal with the workers riots at Blast Rifle Crag very easily and now we have peace.” Santiago fired back angrily.

“Colonel if I may?” Captain Michaels asked. Santiago nodded to her but her eyes were still fixed on Smith. “Colonel your plan of attack does not include any forward base support. Captain Smith is taking all of our mobile forces deep into the south and will launch an attack. In addition I have to send a vast amount of supplies and equipment with them in order so that they can upgrade their weapon systems for the attack. They will need techs to do the work as well. How will we be able to support this offensive?”

“Good question Michaels the first today.” She continued staring at Smith in fury. “We will support our attack by capturing their most northern base. Once we have that under our control we will continue to move south and move quickly. Once we knock the legs out from under them they should fall easily. The sooner we unite under the Spartan banner the better.”

Everyone in the room remained quiet as Santiago looked at each of them in turn. The discussion was closed. It was time for action.

*~*~*~*

The Hive, MY 2148

"Peoples' Science Advisor Scott," First Citizen Yang said. "The advance in ethical calculus is insufficient."

The science advisor blanched but remained still.

"This research duplicates, yet again, the advances made by the Gaians. Moreover, this technology, you say, will allow the infrastructure to form a democratic government."

Yang put down the report and locked the motionless Scott in his gaze. "Such actions show a blatant disregard for the will of the People's Representatives, and the needs of the Hive's Citizens.

"It will be up to the People's Representative to determine if your efforts to form the infrastructure for a democratic government are treasonous. It will be my recommendation that they consider this carefully."

Scott swallowed, hard. The threat was less then veiled, both toward him and toward any People's Representative that thwarted the First Citizen's wishes.

"I...request," Scott started, "to see my family pod."

"Denied," Yang stated.

At his pronouncement the doors to his office opened. Three People's Protectors paced in and surrounded Scott. Their stun sticks were in a cordon around the cowed scientist, who could offer no effective resistance even if he wanted to.

"Remove this," the First Citizen said.

Heavy boots and the padding of Scott's light footsteps echoed through the silent hall. Then the door closed and the First Citizen returned to work.

*~*~*~*

Private quarters of Colonel Santiago, Sparta Command –SPARTA 2148

Santiago reached over and smashed her pillow again to try and make it softer. Realizing what she had just done mad her even more angry, softer pillow for a Spartan! It had been a trying day to say the least. Events almost seemed to spring out of thin air to create trouble. The worst of them had been the disappearance of the 2nd recon rover regiment. They had entered another of those “weird” alien areas that transported them nearly 20 sectors away. When the captain of the unit finally made contact they informed Santiago that they were now east of the Drones but still much closer than they were before. It just meant that the planned assault would have to come from two different directions.

In addition the 1st recon reported that the drones colony pod leader decided to establish his camp at the site they had met at. That in of itself was not the problem but the fact that there were two more colony pods traveling with the first was the issue. Santiago did not want them the Drones to expand any further into lands claimed by Sparta. So now the 1st was holding until it got further orders, pinning the colony pods down, preventing them to advance. If the Drones began to complain about Santiago’s forces then she would attack. It was that simple. First she needed to get the 1st upgraded to the best weapons possible that would come next turn. The alien war machine would be in position soon to support the attack so that was good news as well.

Lastly, Fort Superiority reported that they had completed the network node, ahead of schedule, and they would be linking the alien device up next turn. Within a turn of that Spartan scientists were expected to make yet another breakthrough.

Santiago turned once again and she caught herself before she adjusted her pillow. She then quickly through the pillow across the room in disgust. It was sacrifice and hard work that made Sparta strong and Santiago needed to be the strongest of all.

*~*~*~*

Near Seat of Proper Thought, MY 2149

James opened the communication channel, "People's Terraformer Crew 12 reporting. The sensor and road for base location 13 are complete. As per instructions, proceeding to assist People's Terraforming Crew 9 to construct a solar array near the apex of People's Apex."

Per protocol he switched off. He knew there would be a drone to record and catalogue all messages and communiqués, and there was no need for verbal confirmation. A daily summary report would be squirted to him anyway, and the accuracy of the drone's work would have to be checked then, and then re-submitted to Seat of Proper Thought, the nearest base.

"Nothing for us I hope," Marian said. "Hey, watch out. Bump."

As she gave him the warning the former lurched to the side, throwing James into the bulkhead on the left. He bounced off the gray primed metal and then to the floor. He recovered quickly, "Nice shot. Miss any yet?"

"You're just jealous, comm jockey. I seem to remember when you were trained for this position. How many formers did you wreck?" Marian asked.

"None, and you know it. A dent does not mean wrecked," he said.

Marian snorted. "It might as well have been. You were in a bloody parking lot! Good thing they gave you something to do where you couldn't hurt yourself. Or me."

"Well, next time just don't hit every huge pothole, OK? Say, any word if we're going to be paired with 9 for a while? Work sure goes faster."

"No word. Not our business, you know that. Not questioning the wisdom of the People's Representatives, are you?" Marian's tone was light hearted.

"Only a traitor would do that, and it's not a joking manner," he replied. He did not believe for one minute that Marian would joke about such matters. She had placed in the top four percent in testing and he doubted that with those scores she would be relegated to former duty. It was most likely training for bigger and better things, like the People's Protectors. One did not joke with them. Ever.

"All right, all right," she said. "No more bumps in the near future. Be sure to buckle in, and check that element five is secured. We don't want to be delayed because of a breakdown."

"Right away," he said as he finished securing his 5-point harness. He tapped a few keys to link into its telemetry. Everything looked OK.

"Status green. No problems," he said.

"Good," she said. "I have transponder lock, and am locking controls on autopilot. Recording in log, per protocol 15-24.25. Confirmed?"

"Yes," he said. Without a word they both got up and went to the small living quarters, not much bigger than those on a rover. With elegant efficiency she stripped, and then removed the last lingering bits of clothing from her communication officer. She reached out and drew him to her, and then grabbed the nape of his neck to draw him in for a deep kiss.

His response was both immediate and, for her, satisfying. There were times when duty had its pleasures.

*~*~*~*

Main exercise facility, Sparta Command – SPARTA 2149

Colonel Corazon Santiago was wet and naked. She had just finished her shower after a grueling 2-hour physical training regime. For the first hour she lifted weights and ran and for the second hour she practiced her kung-fu skills. She had just finished showering and was walking back to her locker when Major West walked in to change into her PT clothes.

“Colonel.” West greeted Santiago. Not much else was required or needed. For those lower echelon officers that tried to make elaborate greetings Santiago usually demoted them on the spot.

Santiago picked up her towel and began to dry herself off.

“What happened overnight?” She asked West.

“Colonel the 1st recon regiment radioed in and confirmed that they had completed their upgrades, they are now the 2nd impact cavalry regiment.” West reported.

“Excellent. Have the colony pods moved yet? Have the droned reinforced the base?”

“No Colonel.”

“Cancel your PT. I want the command staff working on a war scenario this morning that would account for a pre-emptive strike on the drone base.” Santiago finished drying herself and began to put her uniform on.

“Colonel do mean to attack the drones before all of our forces are in place?”

“Yes. I see no reason not to. The alien war machine is almost at the rendezvous location. If we wait on the 1st impact cav to reach the launching point for our attack it will be another 10 turns. No, I see no reason to wait. Also with the transportation of the 2nd recon to the east it will confuse the drones into thinking we have launched a two pronged attack.” Santiago fired back slightly annoyed that her XO would even question her decision.

“I agree the drones will be surprised and perhaps this element of surprise will be sufficient for the attack. As far as G-3 can tell the drones have nothing more than assault riffles and synthetic armor. They should fall easily before our trained troops. My only concern still is the distance. If we cannot take a base to support our forward operations the supply lines and reinforcements will be slow in coming.” West countered in hopes of trying to persuade her leader which deep down she knew she couldn’t.

“West we attack. We have forces nearby and with our discovery of sea transportation we can build troop transports that should make the trip quicker than need by. We need to strike now before the drones prepare anymore. Already one of their cities has three garrison units in it. I don’t want to fight a war of attrition. If we hit them hard and quick we will knock them back on their feet and take the victory, now lets get going.”

Santiago stormed out of the locker room and West followed quickly behind.

**Hydro** · April 30, 2004, 20:50

The Hive, MY 2150

“First Citizen,” a voice over the intercom said. It was polite but insistent, and Yang knew that this was important. He was interrupted at all times with matters ranging from trivial and mundane to occasionally traumatic. The tone of Citizen Paine’s voice, his long time consort, was too obvious to be ignored.

“Yes,” he answered.

“Datajack Rose wishes to speak with you,” Citizen Paine said.

Yang’s eyebrow rose a bit in spite of himself. “Acknowledged. Route her transmission to the People’s Representative’s meeting room.”

He didn’t bother to ask for an acknowledgement of his orders. Paine was as efficient in her job as she was bearing his children. It took only a few moments to leave his office. As he did so he was immediately flanked by a trio of People’s Protectors, who immediately picked up his walking pattern and adjusted their to space themselves around him.

The meeting room was ahead. He keyed in and then presented himself for a retinal scan. A small light winked and the medium blue doors opened. He entered, and sat down at the austere table near one of the data consoles, which he activated. The image of Rose immediately appeared.

“Greetings, Datajack Rose,” Yang said. He forced himself to smile, and smile warmly. His face was unaccustomed to the effort, even if he could make his smile seem warm and friendly, if he desired it.

Rose smiled back. “Hello Yang,” she said, as if they were old friends. “You know,” she started in a conversational sort of way, “I’ve been thinking. We’re really not all that different, you and I.”

Yang was stunned, and he choose not to show it. “Indeed,” he said.

“Indeed,” she said, nodding. “I think we should move our people’s closer together. We will be stronger when we combine forces, you know.”

Rose had succeeded in stunning Yang yet again. “I see.”

Rose paused for a moment, looking at Yang. Her demeanor changed. “Would you, well, consider a Pact?”

Now Yang almost smiled. He smelled weakness. “I might,” he said.

Rose brightened a little. “We’ll trade maps, and start trade right away, then.”

“The Hive has not agreed. Yet.”

That stopped Rose cold. Yang let the uncomfortable silence lengthen. It suited his purpose.

“Well, will you?” Rose said, finally unable to stand the pause any longer.

Having proven his point, Yang said, “Yes. And, as a gesture of good faith, will you consider trading technologies.”

But, Rose evidentially had what she wanted. “In good time, my friend. In good time. My assistants will arrange the details. Goodbye!”

Yang watched the blank screen, reviewing what had just happened. Rose had gone from hostile to submissive. What had changed? Was she under attack? Perhaps her world maps would give him an answer.

Or, maybe not. Humans were such irrational and bewildering creatures.

*~*~*~*

Ruins of the Free Drone base – SPARTA 2150

Captain Smith rubbed her eyes. She was tired. The adrenalin rush of combat, of leading troops into battle was beginning to wear off. Behind her she could hear her radio operator contacting SSCATC with the situation report and the great victory they had achieved. The 2nd impact cavalry regiment had swept down on the base at top speed the impact cannons screaming as they fired blast after blast into the base. The two colony pods had gone up almost immediately in flames and the poorly constructed city had quickly followed. The few defenders tried valiantly to fight but they simply evaporated into smoke and ashes once the rover’s impact cannons and the shoulder fired impact rifles hit them.

After the battle they had been able to scavenge from the ruins 6 mega-credits of energy modules but most importantly they found the Drones map files. It laid out every city and every terrain feature the Drones had charted. The only issue of any consequence left was the few remaining survivors from the base. When the colony pods had exploded they had killed nearly every one of the 2,000 colonists. Now there were only a few hundred survivors. Smith had issued orders for them to be sent back to Sparta Command for interrogation. Some of them would make good laborers. Santiago had discussed her plans with Smith before leaving for this expedition concerning prisoners. Just like the Spartans of old the new Spartan Federation would use the conquered to support the greater Spartan Federation. These “half-men/women” as they were to be called would be assigned to support the families of the active duty soldiers. It only seemed fair that soldiers fighting for Sparta would reap the benefits of their victories. These half-men/women would be assigned roles as servants or workers in factories in support of the military class, the myrmidons.

“Captain Smith its Colonel Santiago for you!” The radio operator reported.

Smith walked over and picked up the headset and lowered her breather mask.

“Captain Smith here Colonel.”

“Smith this is Santiago. We just reviewed the map you sent us and we want your assessment.”

“Colonel the fungus field to the west is vast and it will take seven, perhaps eight turns before I can get my rovers into position for the next attack on the Drone base. The good thing is that when I attack the alien war machine will be with us during the assault. After that it will be nearly 12 turns before I am in a position to attack the remaining two Drone cities.”

“Understood and we agree with your assessment. Proceed as planned and you are under strict orders to take the next Drone city undamaged, if at all possible, limit your attacks to spare the city. We need it to support our operations in that area. I understand the situation that happened today and that nothing could have been done to stop it, don’t worry about it, it was a great victory and your myrmidons should be proud. The base was too small, too fragile to withstand the attack. When you make the next assault try to focus only on the military units, is that clear!”

“Crystal clear Colonel!”

“Good, excellent work and more victories for Sparta! Move at best speed and inform me when your troops are ready to mount the next attack. I will order the 2nd recon regiment to make an attack on the second Drone city to disguise our true intentions, a minor diversion to keep Drone reinforcements from reaching you. Once that base is ours we will be able to cut off any further expansion by the Drones. After that it is just a matter of time before the fall before us.”

“Yes Colonel!”

“Santiago out!”

“Colonel Santiago Foreman Domai of the Free Drones wishes to plead for a cease-fire and end the hostilities. He is on the radio and wishes to offer terms for peace, even compensation to us to stop the war.” Major West reported to Santiago.

Santiago was bent over the main map, a map recently updated with all of the new map information from the Drones.

“Tell the Drone leader he can go to hell.”

*~*~*~*

The Hive, MY 2151

Yang graced his new People’s Science Advisor Warris Brandon with a cold stare. He had been promoted after the execution of his predecessor Simon Scott for high treason. The lesson was not lost on the middle aged Warris.

“You propose to increase the allocation of our valuable energy reserves to boost our scientific output?” he asked.

Warris was prepared and did not flinch. “Yes, First Citizen. This will result in some loss, but look at this,” he said as he handed Yang a datapad.

He took it, and toggled through a few screens.

Moments passed, and Yang was motionless except for the economical movement of his fingers and the barely discernable shifting of his eyes under his heavy epicurean folds.

Then, he looked up and returned the datapad. “You predict we will decrease the time to our next breakthrough by four years, and at the cost of five megacredits per year.”

Warris nodded and stood his ground.

“Approved,” he said. “Inform the People’s Representatives that they are to vote on this issue, and my approval of your proposal.”

Yang continued to lock him in his stare. Outwardly Warris was calm and collected, but he was beginning to feel unnerved. The First Citizen only rarely made protected eye contact.

Finally he said, “Dismissed.”

Warris turned on heel and left the room.

After he was gone Yang reflected for 30 seconds before returning to work. Perhaps this science advisor would provide for The Hive better than the last. With an inward grin he thought, Wheat and chaff.

*~*~*~*

3-sectors north of Laborers Throng Base –SPARTA 2151

“We have orders next turn to destroy the Drones terrafromer.”

Captain Iverson turned to her radio operator. “Right. Confirm those orders with the codebook and then radio the rest of the rovers to turn south. I will inform them of our IP with the terraformer.”

“Right Captain.”

Captain Amy Iverson was glad that her unit would be able to prove themselves in combat. It was important that the Drones keep their attention fixed on her command so the 2nd cavalry could make their attack on the western Drone base without fear of Drone reinforcements showing up.

As the rovers raced along the edge of the great desert to the north Iverson was still amazed at how quickly the Drones had built up their society. They had farms and solar collectors and mines and roads. It was truly amazing what they had done and it made it all the more imperative that the Spartans bring the Drones under their control. The Drones might be lacking in military might but they seemed to have a good industrial capacity and that worried her. What if the Drones could suddenly build lots of equipment and begin launching attacks against Sparta! The mere thought sent chills down her spine. No, it would not come to that. These Drones were weak and they would fall. Any doubts now would only aid the enemy. Sparta must be strong.

*~*~*~*

The Hive, MY 2152

Yang looked on at the remote. It showed gangs of highly motivated drones laboring well into the night outside of the newest Hive base. The entire area was infested with fungus, but that was irrelevant. What was important was the Unity pod, which had been opened the previous evening.

Inside were wonderful things: row upon row of fusion batteries! These were state of the art energy storage devices back on Earth and they were intended for the colonists landing. Only a few were prepared, and it was a stroke of luck that they had found one. The pod itself was miraculously intact, and it was clear that its cargo was intact, too.

By the latest estimation there were at least 150 megajoules of energy in the fusion batteries. The Hive had not seen that much energy in its 50 years of existence, and that was fully 10 year’s energy production.

Already there were recommendations for worthy projects and base improvements for which the energy could be used. None were frivolous, and all would benefit The Hive. The real question was whether to invest the energy now or wait until some later date. Such questions, however, could be put off for now. At this moment Yang relished the simple joy of seeing his people benefit from their fruitful labor.

And a bit of good fortune!

*~*~*~*

3-sectors north of the Drone city Laborer’s Throng – SPARTA 2152

Captain Iverson had ordered her rovers south. The rovers had moved into position to begin the attack when a much better target suddenly appeared on long-range radar: a colony pod.

Iverson order her rovers immediately north and the soon found the hapless colony pod plodding along as fast as it could to “get away” from the Spartans.

Under Spartan battle code there was no appeal to surrender, just attack. The rovers moved in quickly firing at the colonists as they scrambled out of the colony pod seeking protection among the rocks. The assault cannons tore into the colony pod and began to shred it to pieces.

The few colonists that were able to flee the pods destruction were quickly rounded up and then chained together so that they could be sent back to Sparta as workers, drones for the mines, farms and factories of Sparta.

Iverson wiped the dirt and grim from her face as she watched her troops complete their work. The drones, nearly 100 in all were too stunned to even talk. Many of them had numerous scratches and burns. Those that had been too hurt from the battle had been put out of their misery.

“Why are you doing this to us? You are a women just like me, like these others? Why would you kill helpless people? Children?” The Drone women sobbed.

“Because we can. You should have submitted to us. You did not. We have the might to make you submit. If your children die then so be it. You will make more. You seem to breed like rabbits anyway.” Iverson looked at the myrmidon in charge of the prisoners. “Take them away.”

Iverson silently worried that perhaps things were going to easy for Sparta. Victories seemed to come as easy as breathing. They had to take the Drones out soon or they would soon realize that a humiliated enemy made a dangerous foe.

*~*~*~*

Western Sea, Collective Effort, MY 2153

Captain Sihn was pleased and so was his crew. Their tiny hold held yet another alien oddity, and artifact that baffled them all. It was just as intact as the Battle Ogre they found, but its purpose was more enigmatic. The vaguely metal object seemed to shift in size so often that they all had decided it was really shifting their perception of it. Clearly it had not burst the hold, yet that is. Trying to describe it was challenging, and they had tried to give a detailed account to the People’s Science Advisor Brandon. He was immediately interested and gave orders for them to proceed to The Hive at best possible speed.

That, however, was a dubious issue. Their best speed was still ponderously slow, and it would take years to make it back to base. Any number of unfortunate events might befall them on the way, and Captain Sihn wanted to give them their best shot at making it to base in one piece. All known areas of fungus were to be avoided at all cost, as were pods. Their hold was, in any case, full, and any investigation would only waste time, and increase the risk.

The one sad part was leaving behind Renny in their Unity rover they had discovered. He had borne up well, and he understood. In an odd way he was eager to start exploring even though he knew there were mindworms about. The pod they had investigated just before finding the artifact had released a number them. It was certain that it would go ill for Renny if he were caught, particularly if he was in the fungus that infested the area they had had to put him ashore. So far he was doing well, but it would be at least a decade before they were able to return. He could do a lot of exploring by then, if he were lucky.

There. The captain felt it again – an odd humming, almost a resonance with the hull of the ship. His teeth even seemed to hum! It wasn’t painful, and it didn’t worry them too much anymore. Hell, in the next five years they may even get used to it.

*~*~*~*

Spartan Battle Manual “Spoils of War” – SPARTA 2153

Throughout history “spoils of war” have aided great nations to become great empires and so will it be with Sparta. I will not debate the moral or humanitarian implications of what Sparta will do. The simple matter of reality is that we need resources to prosper. We need labor, material and energy to forge our survival on this planet. Because of those weak-minded leaders of the past who nearly doomed humanity to perish on this remote rock in space our mission failed. However a new mission was born from the ashes of the old. We will not fail to fall backwards to the failed policies of Earth but rather forge a new discipline based on courage, strength and conviction. I will not allow humanity to rebuild this planet into the old failed ways that nearly caused humanity to perish. We will create a new world that will reward the strong, the intelligent and the courageous. Those who have courage to shred humanities old morale code and replace it with a far simpler, more “true” code of conduct. We will not longer deny our “inner selves” that primal force that created man the hunter, man the predator, man the leader. We will nurture that instinct and expand upon it.

In order to accomplish our goal we will need those who will be able to serve the “perfect man” to tend his fields, craft his weapons and to serve them. We will need resources, lands and energy to allow our myrmidon soldiers the time to fully explore the true self the predator self the primal self. I will not deny that forcing men and women, who were once our comrades in space to become our servants is a pleasant task but it is a necessary task. I feel that those who serve deserve protection and guidance from the more noble humans. We will grant legal protection to those slaves, or half-men/half-women. They will not be sold, only the state can assign or remove half-men from the house of a myrmidon. Half-men and women will be allowed to marry and create families and these “families” will always be allowed to stay together. In return for such benevolence Sparta will expect great things from her slaves. Respect for their masters and their support for the state. It is clear that we cannot expect to prosper if there are those who are not willing to perceive of the brilliance of those blessed with the gift to forge a new world.

In the following section I will explain in more detail the role of the slave to the state and the importance of maintaining the grand purpose of our world.

*~*~*~*

The Hive, MY 2154

The People’s Development Minister Maon Shirn stood before an irritated First Citizen Yang.

“What is your explanation for the disorder at two of our colonies,” he asked with no preamble.

“First Citizen,” Shirn said, bowing slightly, “it appears that with the establishment of our 12 bases we are experiencing increasing communication and control problems. We are still able to control the drones, but not as easily as before. I predict that these problems will become even more acute as we continue our expansion.”

Yang was not placated. “You have described the problem, Minister. You have not defined a solution.”

“There are two solutions. First, we can cease expanding the number of bases and refocus our efforts at internal development. This would augment energy production, although it would slow growth. Second, we can keep expanding and build more garrisons and recreation commons to keep order among the drones. This second option is likely to present the People with diminishing returns and, as the People’s Development Minister, I can not recommend it. There is a third option, which is to increase the efficiency of The Hive. This last option is not yet available to us, but may be in the future.”

Yang did not like any of these answers. “And what are we to do with the colony pods currently en route, or in production?”

“Those colonists can be added to any base, First Citizen. Or the resources could be added to a development project, or major project. Production of colony pods can be terminated and those resources redirected. The loss for redirecting resources should be minimal.”

There was silence as Yang thought these issues through. “Execute your recommendations, Development Minister. Inform the People’s Representatives, and have them redirect production accordingly.”

Maon gave him a shallow bow. “Yes, First Citizen.”

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Mind or Muscle

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