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Hi guys...this is the second story I've ever written. I hope you like it. Please let me know your comments.
Provost Zakharov walked into his private communications suite like a man walking into the gallows. He knew what he had to do, and it wasn’t something he felt good about doing. However, the fate of the University, if not the human race depended on this conversation.
Zakharov approached the communications pedestal in the center of the room. All around him, the panels on the wall hummed with power. The main monitor screen had a single readout on it; “Secure Frequency Open-Please Activate Hologram Projector.” With a slow but steady movement, Zakharov transferred control of the equipment to the pedestal and activated the Holo-projector. A few feet in front of him the air shimmered and the holographic image of Sister Miriam Godwinson appeared.
Punctual, as usual; Zakharov thought.
“Miriam, it is good to see you. Thank you for responding to my message and granting me this audience.”
“It is my pleasure, Provost. How may I be of service?” Miriam responded. Her image stood behind a similar pedestal, broadcast from her headquarters in New Jerusalem. Miriam looked much like Zakharov imagined she would at this meeting...smug. Dressed in her blue tinted robes her bright red hair contrasted sharply with her alabaster skin. She wore a slight smile that one would have thought meant she was happy to see Zakharov. But Zakharove knew better. He could tell by her bio-scan that she was angry. At what, no one could be sure. Miriam seemed to constantly be angry about something, at least it seemed that way to the Provost.
“I’ll get right to the point, my dear Sister Miriam, “Zakharov began, “We have a situation that threatens both of our factions, and possible all of the humans on Planet. Chairman Yang and the Hive have ruthlessly attacked my holdings. I humbly ask for your assistance in repelling his unprovoked attack.”
As Zakharov spoke he pushed a single button on his panel and a map appeared between them. The map clearly showed the continent that The Hive, the University and The Believers shared. The Hive was in the center and the icons of its troops were superimposed on Gagarin Memorial and Monitoring Station....two University bases that had been overrun and siezed by Yang only a scant 36 hours ago. The Hive troops were massing at the border of the University. On the other side of the continent the icons were of Believer territory. Up until a year ago, some of that territory belonged to The Gaians. Miriam had ruthlessly crushed them and sent Lady Skye and the survivors scurrying off in colony pods to settle elsewhere.
“I see.” Miriam purred as she surveyed the map. “Yang caught you with your pants down, as the old saying goes. I suppose he sensed weakness. He must know that you have sent the bulk of your troops to aid the eco-daft Gaians against the new alien faction that has appeared on Planet...the Caretakers.”
“Do not trifle with me Miriam!” Zakharov spat angrily, and then regained his composure. Miriam had that effect on him. He had little tolerance for her fundamentalist extremism. Miriam had at any given time been at war with most of the human factions on planet. How she knew the status of his military was a mystery, but it didn’t matter right now. “The aliens pose a continuous and very real threat to our survival. But Yang has taken advantage of the situation and he won’t rest until we are all mindless drones in his work pits. I need your help in stopping him....or would you rather wait until he’s through with the University and then turns his eye towards you? Do you really think that Yang will honor his Treaty of Friendship with you? And while he’s grinding away the University of Planet, the Alien Caretakers are advancing towards us. If we don’t stop the Hive now, none of us will be strong enough to resist them.”
Miriam activated a switch on her end and instantaneously a draft message appeared on the small data screen on Zakharov’s pedestal. It was a formal Pact of Brotherhood all ready written and ready for the Provost’s approval.
“I will help you, Provost.” Miriam said, “but it will cost you. Your methods are unethical, your University is wretched and godless, but I believe your soul can still be saved. Yang on the other hand is beyond human redemption. His athiest police state can only be cleansed by blood and only God can forgive him for his sins. The price for my help is 800 energy credits, plus your data on silksteel alloys, fusion power...”
“Done.” Zakharov cut her off. He didn’t want to spend more time than he had to speaking with Miriam. Of all the faction leaders, he believed her to be truly mad and she mad him uncomfortable.
“...and the data on Doctrine: Air Power.” Miriam continued. “This is non-negotiable.”
“Are you insane, woman!?” Zakharove responded, his eyes wide with disbelief. “You want me to hand over the pinnacle of my research, highly classified information just for your help in stopping a menace to the both of us?”
“You’re the one asking for my help, Provost. Would you have me send my christian followers to fight Yang, let alone the Caretakers with their bare hands?”
Zakharov’s teeth grinded for a moment. “You did quite well in murdering innocent Gaian citizens with mere laser weapons. Have your troops so lost their touch that they need access to my weaponry to fight a just war?”
“Now you are trifling with me, Zakharov!” Miriam angrily retorted, “The Gaians were...are...a threat to the divinity of man. They are blight against the one true God and any actions I have taken against them are just. You can chose not to agree with my terms, for I am not afraid to die and face my God. If you wish to put off your demise you will agree and hope that together we can stop Yang and the Caretakers.”
She had him over a barrel and Zakharov knew it. Alone, the University could maybe...just maybe...defeat the Hive. But the cost in human life and resources would be enormous. And if the University emerged victorious there would be little left standing to resist the Caretakers, let alone Miriam if she chose to strike at him then. Besides, if he didn’t pact with the Believers Yang might...and that would certainly spell the end for the University.
“I agree, Miriam.” Zakharov muttered. He transmitted the information Miriam desired and then pressed his thum onto the dermal scanner and approved the document before him...without reading the fine print at the bottom of it, which was unlike him. But Zakharov was in a hurry to end this communication and besides...Miriam told him what was written there, thus....
“If you’ll pay close attention to the bottom of the document, Provost, you will note the stipulation that you will not interfere with my vendetta against the Gaians, the Morganites or the Cybernetic Consciousness. That means I will send troops to aid you here and some to help bolster your forces fighting the Caretakers...but if those troops attack Gaian holdings...the same ones that you are currently defending from the aliens...you will not interfere.”
DAMN! Zakharov thought. He had guessed that Miriam would continue her vendetta against the Gaians but he had hoped that it would be after the Caretaker problems were sorted out. He knew now that Miriam was planning to attack Deidre Skye with the advanced technology he had just given her....and the Gaians...already suffering from a horrific defeat and constant attacks by the Caretakers...were in no conditoion to defend themselves from fusion needlejets.
But what could he do? He had just signed an official Pact of Brotherhood with the Believers. The reputation of the University was in the balance and depended on the keeping of his word. Besides, he needed Miriam’s help to defeat the Hive.
“We should coordinate our battle plans. I will amass a force and strike the Hive at the Leaders Horde. I suggest you swing your regiments around and meet my forces at the Pholus Ridge. Together we can take that base and use it as a forward assualt base to drive the Hive militia back.” Miriam said, as she directed the icons on the map to indicate her plan. Zakharov was a little suprised at her knack for military tactics.
“I concur.” Zakharov answered sullenly.
“Excellent.” Miriam returned. “The data I requested has been recieved and judged most useful, Provost. My Thanks. Official word of our Pact will be announced on the Datalinks Web in four minutes. If that is all for now, I will pray for your redemption and the victory of our forces.”
Zakharov merely nodded. He couldn’t believe that Miriam had outmanuevered him like this...or that he allowed himself to be outwitted by her.
“Then I take my leave.” said Miriam, “Oh, and Zakharov...please give my regards to Lady Skye next time you speak with her. Godwinson out.”
Miriam’s image faded and the channel closed automatically. Zakharov stood silently for a moment, then switched the holoprojector to tap into the latest Datalinks display. The Netflash New Service was already announcing the newly formed Pact with the Believers...including the stipulation of non-interference if the Believers attacked the Gaians.
“I have sacrificed a friend to save myself...” Zakharov said to himself. “Please...Deidre...forgive me.”
The Provost shuffled out of the suite...still walking like a man heading for the gallows.
Provost Zakharov walked into his private communications suite like a man walking into the gallows. He knew what he had to do, and it wasn’t something he felt good about doing. However, the fate of the University, if not the human race depended on this conversation.
Zakharov approached the communications pedestal in the center of the room. All around him, the panels on the wall hummed with power. The main monitor screen had a single readout on it; “Secure Frequency Open-Please Activate Hologram Projector.” With a slow but steady movement, Zakharov transferred control of the equipment to the pedestal and activated the Holo-projector. A few feet in front of him the air shimmered and the holographic image of Sister Miriam Godwinson appeared.
Punctual, as usual; Zakharov thought.
“Miriam, it is good to see you. Thank you for responding to my message and granting me this audience.”
“It is my pleasure, Provost. How may I be of service?” Miriam responded. Her image stood behind a similar pedestal, broadcast from her headquarters in New Jerusalem. Miriam looked much like Zakharov imagined she would at this meeting...smug. Dressed in her blue tinted robes her bright red hair contrasted sharply with her alabaster skin. She wore a slight smile that one would have thought meant she was happy to see Zakharov. But Zakharove knew better. He could tell by her bio-scan that she was angry. At what, no one could be sure. Miriam seemed to constantly be angry about something, at least it seemed that way to the Provost.
“I’ll get right to the point, my dear Sister Miriam, “Zakharov began, “We have a situation that threatens both of our factions, and possible all of the humans on Planet. Chairman Yang and the Hive have ruthlessly attacked my holdings. I humbly ask for your assistance in repelling his unprovoked attack.”
As Zakharov spoke he pushed a single button on his panel and a map appeared between them. The map clearly showed the continent that The Hive, the University and The Believers shared. The Hive was in the center and the icons of its troops were superimposed on Gagarin Memorial and Monitoring Station....two University bases that had been overrun and siezed by Yang only a scant 36 hours ago. The Hive troops were massing at the border of the University. On the other side of the continent the icons were of Believer territory. Up until a year ago, some of that territory belonged to The Gaians. Miriam had ruthlessly crushed them and sent Lady Skye and the survivors scurrying off in colony pods to settle elsewhere.
“I see.” Miriam purred as she surveyed the map. “Yang caught you with your pants down, as the old saying goes. I suppose he sensed weakness. He must know that you have sent the bulk of your troops to aid the eco-daft Gaians against the new alien faction that has appeared on Planet...the Caretakers.”
“Do not trifle with me Miriam!” Zakharov spat angrily, and then regained his composure. Miriam had that effect on him. He had little tolerance for her fundamentalist extremism. Miriam had at any given time been at war with most of the human factions on planet. How she knew the status of his military was a mystery, but it didn’t matter right now. “The aliens pose a continuous and very real threat to our survival. But Yang has taken advantage of the situation and he won’t rest until we are all mindless drones in his work pits. I need your help in stopping him....or would you rather wait until he’s through with the University and then turns his eye towards you? Do you really think that Yang will honor his Treaty of Friendship with you? And while he’s grinding away the University of Planet, the Alien Caretakers are advancing towards us. If we don’t stop the Hive now, none of us will be strong enough to resist them.”
Miriam activated a switch on her end and instantaneously a draft message appeared on the small data screen on Zakharov’s pedestal. It was a formal Pact of Brotherhood all ready written and ready for the Provost’s approval.
“I will help you, Provost.” Miriam said, “but it will cost you. Your methods are unethical, your University is wretched and godless, but I believe your soul can still be saved. Yang on the other hand is beyond human redemption. His athiest police state can only be cleansed by blood and only God can forgive him for his sins. The price for my help is 800 energy credits, plus your data on silksteel alloys, fusion power...”
“Done.” Zakharov cut her off. He didn’t want to spend more time than he had to speaking with Miriam. Of all the faction leaders, he believed her to be truly mad and she mad him uncomfortable.
“...and the data on Doctrine: Air Power.” Miriam continued. “This is non-negotiable.”
“Are you insane, woman!?” Zakharove responded, his eyes wide with disbelief. “You want me to hand over the pinnacle of my research, highly classified information just for your help in stopping a menace to the both of us?”
“You’re the one asking for my help, Provost. Would you have me send my christian followers to fight Yang, let alone the Caretakers with their bare hands?”
Zakharov’s teeth grinded for a moment. “You did quite well in murdering innocent Gaian citizens with mere laser weapons. Have your troops so lost their touch that they need access to my weaponry to fight a just war?”
“Now you are trifling with me, Zakharov!” Miriam angrily retorted, “The Gaians were...are...a threat to the divinity of man. They are blight against the one true God and any actions I have taken against them are just. You can chose not to agree with my terms, for I am not afraid to die and face my God. If you wish to put off your demise you will agree and hope that together we can stop Yang and the Caretakers.”
She had him over a barrel and Zakharov knew it. Alone, the University could maybe...just maybe...defeat the Hive. But the cost in human life and resources would be enormous. And if the University emerged victorious there would be little left standing to resist the Caretakers, let alone Miriam if she chose to strike at him then. Besides, if he didn’t pact with the Believers Yang might...and that would certainly spell the end for the University.
“I agree, Miriam.” Zakharov muttered. He transmitted the information Miriam desired and then pressed his thum onto the dermal scanner and approved the document before him...without reading the fine print at the bottom of it, which was unlike him. But Zakharov was in a hurry to end this communication and besides...Miriam told him what was written there, thus....
“If you’ll pay close attention to the bottom of the document, Provost, you will note the stipulation that you will not interfere with my vendetta against the Gaians, the Morganites or the Cybernetic Consciousness. That means I will send troops to aid you here and some to help bolster your forces fighting the Caretakers...but if those troops attack Gaian holdings...the same ones that you are currently defending from the aliens...you will not interfere.”
DAMN! Zakharov thought. He had guessed that Miriam would continue her vendetta against the Gaians but he had hoped that it would be after the Caretaker problems were sorted out. He knew now that Miriam was planning to attack Deidre Skye with the advanced technology he had just given her....and the Gaians...already suffering from a horrific defeat and constant attacks by the Caretakers...were in no conditoion to defend themselves from fusion needlejets.
But what could he do? He had just signed an official Pact of Brotherhood with the Believers. The reputation of the University was in the balance and depended on the keeping of his word. Besides, he needed Miriam’s help to defeat the Hive.
“We should coordinate our battle plans. I will amass a force and strike the Hive at the Leaders Horde. I suggest you swing your regiments around and meet my forces at the Pholus Ridge. Together we can take that base and use it as a forward assualt base to drive the Hive militia back.” Miriam said, as she directed the icons on the map to indicate her plan. Zakharov was a little suprised at her knack for military tactics.
“I concur.” Zakharov answered sullenly.
“Excellent.” Miriam returned. “The data I requested has been recieved and judged most useful, Provost. My Thanks. Official word of our Pact will be announced on the Datalinks Web in four minutes. If that is all for now, I will pray for your redemption and the victory of our forces.”
Zakharov merely nodded. He couldn’t believe that Miriam had outmanuevered him like this...or that he allowed himself to be outwitted by her.
“Then I take my leave.” said Miriam, “Oh, and Zakharov...please give my regards to Lady Skye next time you speak with her. Godwinson out.”
Miriam’s image faded and the channel closed automatically. Zakharov stood silently for a moment, then switched the holoprojector to tap into the latest Datalinks display. The Netflash New Service was already announcing the newly formed Pact with the Believers...including the stipulation of non-interference if the Believers attacked the Gaians.
“I have sacrificed a friend to save myself...” Zakharov said to himself. “Please...Deidre...forgive me.”
The Provost shuffled out of the suite...still walking like a man heading for the gallows.