Common Purpose

[Hydro]

Cult, MY 2258

The master spy walked silently down the hall holding the data crystal tight in his hand his pace was brisk and one could say even full of bounce. He reached the private entrance to the quarters of the Prophet and keyed in his special access code and entered.

”Mistress Eve! It is your master spy with urgent news for you!” Spy master Markese waited a few minutes and the door slid aside to Eve’s rooms and out she walked wrapped in silk sheet with her hair black hair cascading around her shoulders she had a very annoyed look on her face.

“Spy master this had better be important.” She growled as she glided to a pile of pillows and cushions and sat down. The spymaster reached into his robes and pulled out a portable holo-projector and laid it on the floor and inserted the crystal, which then started displaying information about the Peacekeepers.

“As you can see our seeker espionage teams were very successful. Team one easily penetrated into the Peacekeeper data system and implanted the hydra-virus that allows us access to their data files. As you can see we are gained a great deal of information and now have full access to their entire system. We are far superior in many ways to the Peacekeepers and they could prove to be a very interesting target if we would be interested in military conquest. Their bases are spread over a wide area and they lack the means to either provide early detection of our transports or react to them in case of an attack.” The data continued to stream across the holo-screeen and Eve continued to read in quiet when the last piece of data was completed she turned and said,

“And phase two of our plan?”

“It was also a successes beyond our wildest dreams. Team two was able to gain access to the system through the hydra-virus and then hacked into the most secret data files of the Peacekeepers, those protected by cipher encryptions. The team was able to down load information on “pulse armor” and plans on equipping ships with marine detachments to allow capture of enemy ships.” The spymaster reached down and placed another crystal into the projector and the plans for the pulse armor popped up. What was interesting about the armor was that it seemed to “reflect” back or negate any offensive weapon targeted at it.

“This is interesting but what about the evidence?” Eve demanded

“As I said, beyond our wildest dreams, team two planted the evidence that even under the most sophisticated examination it would stand up as genuine. Mr. Malister has done wonders for us in procuring certain Gaian technology items that we used in this operation. I am sure the Peacekeepers are livid about the Gaian infiltration and there is no way it can ever be traced back to us! Both teams after executing their mission were able to blend into the Peacekeeper population and book passage back to our nearest base. The teams are retraining as we speak for their next mission. I would suggest going after the Cyborgs or Spartans next, preferably the Cyborgs. The Gaians it seems have built a very extensive “ring” of anti-espionage teams so any infiltration would be difficult.” The master spy folded his arms under his robes and smiled at Eve.

“You and your people have done very well master spy, very well. Inform them that the next target will be the cyborgs and they are to plant the same evidence again. When the Cyborgs align themselves with the Peacekeepers that should prove to be a strong threat to the Gaians and if we can turn the Spartans as well, then all the better as well since they will have three fronts. Our recent exchange of data with the University for superconductor technology and the data just stolen will aid our cause in matching the Gaians. Next turn we will complete our work on optical computers and then on to clean reactors.” Eve allowed the sheet to fall around her waste as she rolled about on the pillows in obvious pleasure in seeing so many things fall into place in favor of the Cult. Markese watched the gorgeous body roll about and it took all of his control to resist his urges to take and savage her body with all of his power. However, his cool intellect took over and he restored his calm and then asked,

”What are your orders great mistresses?”

“When the isle of the deep returns order the two teams out to infiltrate the Cyborgs and plant the evidence against the Gaians. I have opened back channel negotiations between the Gaians and us and when it seems all the other factions are against the Gaians then our offer of an alliance will seem to be to tempting to them. They will accept, after they agree to our conditions, and then we will strike at the other factions and scoop up the other factions like marbles in the sand.” Eve rose and reached down and picked up the sheet and rewrapped her body and then moved back to her desk to begin her reports. The master spy turned and left thinking what a good plan it was, in theory, but could the Cult really pull off such an ambitious plan?

*~*~*~*

Gaia’s Landing, MY 2259

“So we are at war again with the Peacekeepers. Any word why he declared war this time?” Terry asked.

“Yes,” Dee stated. “I’m sure you’ve all seen the holos of Pravin’s speech to his Parliament, where he rails against Gaian treachery and deceit over the theft of secret technology. He got them worked into such a lather that they declared war immediately after the speech. There was also the second holo, broadcast for all to see, of Pravin signing a war declaration.”

“He could have had some tact in the removal of our embassy staff,” Ling said. “There was no need to lead them away in shackles – it violated diplomatic immunity. He’d better be careful of the precedents he sets or his precious Charter may be next.”

“They weren’t hurt,” Dee said. “It was all show, and after the holo emitters were off they were treated decently. He was making a point.”

Colin leaned forward. “Did we steal his technology?”

“No,” Ling stated. “All of our probe teams, all 23 of them, are accounted for and have been in defensive mode for the last 70 years. No overt or illicit probe actions were completed. And, we don’t have the technology he accused us of stealing. That seems pretty definitive to me.”

“Could he be mistaken?” Colin asked.

“I’m sure he had technology stolen, and it seems the evidence points to us,” Dee said.

“If we didn’t do it, and it isn’t likely to be a misunderstanding, then we were framed,” Ling said. Then she stood up and tapped a few times on the datapad on the conference table. “I’ll get to the bottom of this, hook or crook, and have a report for the Council soon. It will take a while to get the information from the Empath Guild.” She looked over at Dee. “Do I have authorization to allow the empaths to use all methods to acquire any information I need?”

“Considering the gravity, yes. Even the Cult. I’m sure they would understand,” Dee said.

Ling nodded.

“The next question is are we threatened,” Terry asked, looking at Ling.

“Not really. The Peacekeepers have three foils, all of which are likely to be a long way from our territory. We have one isle and spoor launcher near their lands, and they could be attacked, but with the Neural Amplifier this is likely to result in a sunk Peacekeeper foil than a dead isle. Their forces are spread all over creation – a typical idiotic Peacekeeper ‘plan’ is you ask me – and they will have a hard time forming any sort of amphibious strike force that we couldn’t deal with in a summary fashion. So, the answer is they can’t really hurt us or our interests. ”

Dee said, “That’s not really true. They are allied, strangely enough, with the Hive of all people, and he might convince Chairman Yang to declare war on us.”

“Wouldn’t the Cult prevent this? Isn’t the Hive their vassal?” Colin asked.

“It didn’t prevent them from declaring war before,” Ling stated. “Their control over the Hive seems pretty weak, or they weren’t trying very hard.” She emphasized the latter part of the statement.

“Very good,” Terry said. “To summarize, we were not responsible for the theft of Peacekeeper technology, and it is likely that we were framed for this. Ling will put together a report detailing the likely culprits. The immediate threat from the war declaration is minimal. Any additions to the record?”

“Yes,” Ling said. “With the completion of our first chaos cruiser I recommend we form a northern and southern navy, formed from a core of cruisers with support foils and isles. This will ensure that our perimeter will be secure, and that we can deal with any invasion fleets that might come our way. The cruisers have significant ‘lets’ due to the Maritime Control Center, and should outpace anything else on the seas. We should also start construction on amphibious strike forces, and cruiser transports. Whoever did this to us will have hell to pay.”

“Ling, could you incorporate this into your threat analysis?” Terry asked.

“Yes, I’d be happy to, along with strength objectives and required resource allocations,” she said. She looked very satisfied.

*~*~*~*

Cult, MY 2259

Eve laughed again at the sight of the Peacekeepers marching the Gaian diplomats off in chains and then turned to her senior advisors.

“So when can we implement phase two of the plan?”

“Great mistress, the isle of the deep will take at least two more turns to return to the base with the espionage teams. Then it will be some time, perhaps even ten turns before they reach the nearest cyborg base.” The master spy replied while punching up the holo display on the path the isle would have to take.

“Excellent. So far only the espionage teams, myself, the spy master, general Fookosh who is out inspecting the troops and you, Ranger Ramos know of what we have done. The technology that we stole has been documented and cataloged so that there is no linkage between our possession of it and the fact that it was stolen from the Peacekeepers. Perhaps the Gaian empaths can “peer” into our minds but we have all been trained enough so that they cannot delve too deeply. They will be able to discover that we got several technologies last turn but no linkage can be traced back to us. In fact, if they dig hard enough all they will find is the proof we left behind indicating that they stole the files and not us.” Eve eased herself back into her chair smiling.

“Mistress Eve, perhaps we should tread cautiously here. I have an unconfirmed report that the University has declared vendetta against the Spartans. If this is correct perhaps we need to direct the teams against the Spartans first. For one they would reach them quicker and two we could turn them against the Gaians and thus create more chaos then the Cyborgs could.” The spy master reached over and hit the holo display again outlining another route and infiltration plan.

“No, the Cyborgs first. They are the next most powerful faction after the Peacekeepers and us so by getting them to side with the Peacekeepers it form a more powerful block to begin with.” Eve quickly replied.

“Great mistress, as you directed the labs have started on researching the genetic makeup of the spore launchers and it should be complete in just over a decade. I had thought you had decided to research military aircraft first thought?” Ramos asked while glaring at Eve.

“Ranger Ramos, I had a change of heart after talking with General Fookosh. In our last war with the Hive the spore launcher was invaluable in weakening the base, which allowed for a swift victory. Our ability to raise such a force and if all goes well, the ability to create our own spores to augment military weapons will only increases our militaries effectiveness.” Eve quickly replied. She had decided to make the switch since warplanes would have fallen under the Rangers control while the current technology would fall under the Guides control. This change might weaken the overall military effectiveness of the Cult but it did strengthen her power base.

“As you wish great mistress.” Ramos replied in a somewhat sullen voice. Eve would have wished to have her spymaster throttle the man on the spot but his escort of four paladins would have stopped the spymaster before he could do any damage.

“Lastly, I want to ask both of you to begin an investigation. Last night computer files were accessed last night that only a select few people could get into. Luckily they were only logs and reports of meetings of the command council and other general reports but I want to know how it was done and more importantly by who!” Eve slammed her fist down on the table rattling the holo projector.

“As you command great mistress” Both the spy master and ranger one responded in unison.

[Hydro]

Gaia’s Landing, MY 2260

“As you can see,” Ling said, “it is impossible for the Spartans or the Hive to have stolen the Peacekeeper technology. The only factions with any transport ability are the Cult, Cyborgs, and University, and here is where it gets interesting. The University has one isle, which has been in port since they bred it ages ago, and an outstanding foil that was last seen heading south. The Cyborgs have three transports and an isle that are accounted for and one that is causing considerable social disturbance at Alpha Prime due to their free market economy. Of course, the Cult has 12 isles at last count, several of which are patrolling our coast and snooping at our bases.

“The next critical component are probe teams, and the Cult, Cyborgs, and University all have espionage ability. The key here is if they are accounted for, and their current location. The University has two probe teams, both of which are in southern bases. The Cyborgs have three probes and they are protecting interior bases. The Cult currently has three probes.

“Now,” Ling continued, “let’s look at the locations with respect to the Peacekeepers. We all know that after an operation that probes return to the nearest friendly base, and that they are typically out of action for about a year after debriefing. The probes from the University and Cyborgs are not in a position that is anywhere near a Peacekeeper base. But, look at this.”

Ling pulled up a holo image of the northwestern island and the small Cult base there. “This base currently has two probe teams, and I find it interesting that this is the Cult base that is nearest the Peacekeepers.”

Terry and Mohammed’s brows fell as they concentrated on the evidence. Dee and Colin were a bit more detached, but they were very attentive.

“Next, who has the offending technology,” Ling said. “The answer is all of them. But, can we discern when they got it? We asked both the Cyborgs and University for the pulse technology for the last decade and they both refused. The Cult did not have this technology at the time.

“Council members,” Ling said as she muted the holo image, but strategically left the image of the Cult base nearest the Peacekeepers visible, “circumstantial evidence strongly suggests that the Cult stole this technology from the Peacekeepers and then framed us for their treachery. If true, this is doubly treacherous since the Cult currently has a friendship treaty with the Peacekeepers, the only one Lal still has. Our good Mistress Eve seems to be up to no good, and is willing to destroy our good name in her efforts. We have worked hard to foster peace among the factions, and our continued ability to do this depends on our reputation, which has been terribly damaged in Lal’s eyes by Cult actions.”

Colin jumped in. “Is there any hard proof?”

“No,” Ling said. “The probe teams made sure of that. But, as I said, the circumstantial evidence is almost beyond doubt since the Hive and Spartans couldn’t done it, and it is unlikely that the University and Cyborgs did due to their abilities and disposition of forces.”

“Why would Eve do this to us? I know she’s upset with us due to our emphasis on Wealth and the establishment of Children of Earth at the Manifold Nexus,” Colin said.

“I think you’ve answered your own question, Colin,” Ling said. “Eve came close to declaring war over the Nexus, and has broken off relations over that and our emphasis on Wealth. We are at least three times bigger than any other faction, and we’ve all seen what that can do – it drives envy, and in some cases violent responses. The best way to strike at a larger foe is to make sure the blow is significant, and that that foe won’t blame you. Basically, to say ‘Let’s You And Him Fight.’ It is also a way to bolster their flagging research rate, and augment their relatively successful trading effort with theft.

“We can’t let this stand,” Ling said. “If we do than we will find Planet turned against us as, one by one, the Cult finds a way to use slight of hand and espionage to bring us down. With that in mind, here is my recommendation for increased military expenditures, and resource requirements.”

For a few moments the Council member reviewed her synopsis. Terry and Mohammed looked it over carefully, nodding occasionally. Colin scanned his, “You want four Bioenhancement Centers? And a four cruiser, two armored transport navy for each of the northern and southern seas? And three armored and armed rover strike forces, some of which have amphibious ability, to be built in 10 years? Why, that would tie up the production schedule of at least, oh, six bases!”

“Actually, it’s more like eight bases,” Ling said, “and your numbers are correct. This is the minimum, actually. We’ll need a separate strike force for the Nexus area and the Jungle.”

“We agreed not to fortify the Nexus, Ling,” Dee said.

“That was before the Cult framed us, and caused Pravin to declare war on us, a war you personally worked for 50 years to still,” Ling said with some heat. “They have betrayed us, Dee, and they’ve been working against us for a long time. Regardless of the mewings of this Malister character that always pops up at diplomatic functions, they are not our friends. Get that through your head.”

Dee took the rebuke badly, and Ling saw that she had misstepped. “Sorry, Dee. I just get furious just thinking about it. I’m not mad at you, but at myself. I should have seen this coming, not that there’s anything we can do about it.”

Dee’s erect posture softened a little. “I understand, Ling. I’ll have a little chat with Mr. Malister in my private quarters…”

Ling immediately started to protest, but Dee put up her hand. “I’ll have a full security guard, and a squad of our best empaths for protection. If he tries anything he’ll be rendered unconscious and placed on the next slow transport back to Cult territory. We need to have a private chat. I’ll tell you all what happens.”

“Sounds good, Dee,” Terry said, trying to defuse some of the hostility. “The next item on our agenda is a switch from Wealth to Knowledge. Please turn to the second pip on your datapads, where you can see that such a switch will increase our scientific output from almost 600 to almost 700 terraquads of data per year…”

*~*~*~*

Mr. Malister entered the lobby of the central spire at Gaia’s Landing. Its outside texture was plantlike, and the lines were all organic, which was partially true, actually. Gaian buildings were grown, and then emplaced, creating an organic look that was quite pleasing, if only it weren’t an Earthlike brown and green. A pinkish Planet hue would be better, he thought.

At the third of the second bank of 20 elevators he used his pass to activate a touchpad, which winked to life. The door opened and he stepped in, and in a moment his ears were popping as he rocketed up to the top of the largest free-standing human structure on Planet. Gaia’s Landing was almost twice as large as any other human city, and its skyscrapers dwarfed all others on Chiron.

In three minutes the doors opened and three men approached, introducing themselves as security. He submitted to their thorough search, which was not exactly gentle. As the electronic and old-fashioned manual search of his person continued he could feel the tendrils of other empaths as they touched his mind. They were powerful, and this was their way of saying ‘we are watching you’. Fair enough, he thought.

He was allowed to make himself presentable, and the portal to Deirdre’s personal quarters opened. Dee was waiting for him in her small anteroom. She was attired in a simple green pants suit, and was free of all ornamentation except for a planetpearl pendent, which was faintly luminescent.

“Mr. Malister,” she said, “it is good of you to come. Please, come sit in the living room.”

He noticed her manner was stiff, and that she didn’t smile, like she had on all previous occasions. This was not good.

He selected a low couch, and Dee took the opposite couch from him. The room was nice sized, but nowhere near as large as he pictured the leader of the Gaian people should have, nor as opulent. In fact, it was more comfortable than lavish.

Dee offered him some refreshments, which looked delicious. Regretfully, he declined.

“I’m afraid that we have a problem, Mr. Malister,” she started. “I know you’ve been interested in establishing, or reestablishing, relations between our peoples, and I support that. Back channels, you called it. However, recent events have caused turmoil.”

“Yes,” he said. “Your espionage against the Peacekeepers, and the war.”

Dee’s eyes narrowed slightly. “I’m going to get to the point. Circumstantial evidence suggests that the Cult is responsible for this incident, and therefore the war that Lal declared as retribution.” Dee gave him a data crystal, which he accepted. “In the name of mutual understanding we’ve laid out all of our evidence here, which I encourage you to review immediately. I also request that Mistress Eve contact the Council directly, through official channels, with a reply. You should know that the Council is either furious or deeply hurt. I fall into the deeply hurt category, and I hope that the Cult is not responsible for this action since it would irreparably harm our relations.”

She stood up, and Joshua followed suit. He could sense that this meeting was almost over. “I wanted keep these back channels you have worked hard at establishing open, and to keep any Gaian reaction unofficial until we hear from Mistress Eve. It is possible that we are wrong, and I wouldn’t want the Council to react in a hasty manner, to the detriment of us all.

“Thank you for coming,” she said. “Do you have any comments or questions?”

*~*~*~*

Cult at Gaia’s Landing, MY 2260

Joshua waited a few seconds and then replied.

“Are you asking if I know if the Cult is responsible?”

“Yes,” Deirdre countered, “ You did tell us at one point that you would be completely truthful at all times.”

“Yes and the answer to your question is, I don’t know. If our great mistress had planned this then she did not communicate it with me. However, from the hard evidence I have seen from the Peacekeeper video feed it points to Gaians as the culprit not the Cult, circumstantial evidence aside.” Joshua finished waiting for a reply.

“Mr. Malister we have reviewed the evidence and it is all too convincing from our standpoint, too perfect, if you will. However, our date indicates that your people were the most likely culprits, not us. Now, good day.” In two seconds two assistants entered the room and Joshua knew that further discussion was at an end.




Eve reviewed the data that Malister sent and smiled. Over her shoulders the spymaster chuckled somewhat at the end of the report and Eve reached over and turned off the computer link and turned around in her chair.

“What do you think?” Eve asked.

“Well, their data is flawless based upon the information they gathered from the Empath Guild and I am sure that Ling was the author of this report. Her mind is sharp and is nearly as devious as my own. However, there are only their assumptions, no proof that they can offer. I could take the same raw data and create a completely different view making it look like the Gaians or someone else.”

“Exactly, they have only their assumptions and yet they are dictating to us a demand that we respond to their circumstantial evidence. No proof. Well, I see that this changes nothing. From what Joshua Malister reports the Gaians are planning a massive military buildup just as we expected they would. However, they have no target to aim it at yet but in time we will give them their targets. So long as we do not become the focus of their buildup we can wait for the plan to unfold.” Eve folded her fingers and seemed to fall into a deep thought. The master spy knew this was his queue to leave so he turned and left the room.



Lady Deirdre Sky and the Gaian advisory council,

I will be brief and to the point. First, the Cult refutes your circumstantial theory that we were the culprits of the theft of the Peacekeeper technology. The hard and physical evidence that was taken from the scene of the crime clearly indicates that the Gaians were the thieves, not us. Perhaps you think you have no part in this crime but perhaps you have some fringe “black ops” units operating that you do not currently have complete control of. I have been told that in democratic societies that this is likely to occur. Your circumstantial evidence is just that, circumstantial. You offer no hard proof to back up your theory yet you demand that we respond and admit that we were at fault because some empath tracked knows that some unit is here and not there. However, you have no proof to submit, even circumstantial that indicates which units were where in the past 4 to 5 previous turns! As such we have to take your word on the data you show. However, we have the hard and uncontrovertibly physical evidence the Peacekeepers have shown to us all!

My second point shall be very clear. As the planetary governor it is your role, no, your duty to be impartial and help to mediate between factions when these events happen. Your investigation is clearly aimed at protecting the Gaians position not at uncovering the truth of the matter. As such I can no longer support your position as planetary governor. I have called for new elections and unfortunately I doubt that sufficient votes will be pulled together to throw you out! Your people have bred like rabbits in a warren and as such you have, under the UN charter, the most votes. The time will come when you will go to far and you will learn that accusing your friends of crimes that we had nothing to do with will only alienate you even further and mark your people for further troubles.
I regret having to take this action but I see that you leave me no choice in the matter. My intelligence team tells me the data you sent us could be looked at in many ways as well as your final analysis. If you had presented hard evidence of our part in this crime before a planet council meeting of all the leaders I would have humbly submitted to your punishment, IF WE HAD BEEN AT FAULT!!! I suggest that you look elsewhere and within to find your demon and then bring them to the light of day!

In conclusion I can see that we cannot at any time soon begin any form of further negotiations to improve our diplomatic, cultural and economic ties. If you have evidence, hard evidence, that we are at fault than please present it to us. From what I can tell you have only two main points that indicate that we are at fault.

Point one: Our recent acquisition of the technology files in question indicates we might have obtained them through less then honorable means. My response is that we obtained them in trade through other faction leaders just like we obtained technology on superconductors from the University. The free exchange of technology was a hallmark of your previous administration however you have abandoned that long ago it seems so it might seem alien to you that others might still practice it.

Point two: The position of our ANTI-espionage teams at our most northern base. First, those units were recently transferred there for training and possible intrusion by other factions. We lack the vast number of anti-spy teams you have so we have to quickly reposition them when we feel a threat is near. These units were transferred via an isle of the deep to our base some turns ago and have been in the field training. They just recently returned to base for some refitting and equipment checks. That is the explanation of their joint arrival at one base, nothing more.

So, we await your response. We feel that you maligned our good name on Planet by flinging circumstantial evidence to deflect the opinion of the other Planet leaders. We will still abide by ALL previous negotiations until you prove to us or inform us that you wish to cancel them. I hope you still have the integrity to owe us that point of courtesy!

May the light of Cha Dawn keep you safe and light your way into the heart of love and understanding!

Mistress Eve

Daughter of the Great Prophet of the Planet, Cha Dawn

[Hydro]

Gaia’s Landing, MY 2261

“Well, she’s right that the evidence is circumstantial,” Colin said.

Ling leaned forward. “Mistress Eve completely missed the point of our message, which was to let her explain why we shouldn’t blame the Cult for this horrendous breach in trust, and apparent Cult duplicity. International opinion wasn’t the point, nor were the ‘facts’ the Peacekeepers presented, since we know those weren’t true, and were obviously cleverly planted. We don’t have the technology in question, and the only faction that had the motive and opportunity is the Cult. Mistress Eve has just slapped us in the face, flouting our good opinion in a brazen and unfriendly manner.”

Ling turned to Dee, who had been quiet through the stormy Council session. “Dee? Your thoughts?”

Deirdre was quiet for a moment. “You are right Ling. Her response is a non-response. It’s almost as if she doesn’t care if there is a breach in our relations.”

“Dee,” Terry said. “Compose a response to Mistress Eve as you see fit. When we are done here I have a crisis in the Parliament to deal with since the Green Progressives have imploded, joining the Progressives again. It seems the new war with the Peacekeepers, and our apparent guilt, is ripping apart the fabric we worked so hard to form. The moderate parties are hemorrhaging, Dee, and everyone is opting either to the pacifistic or militaristic wings. Colin, I could use your help on damage control, and a little friendly arm twisting as only you can do.”

“Anything you need,” Colin said. “Just let me what you need.”

“Now, back to better news. Mohammed?” Terry said.

“Yes, I do have good news. Our infrastructure build rate is continuing, and we have started three bioenhancement centers in the last few years. Most of our cities have completed hab centers and tree farms, and many are working on hybrid forests. When these are done we will be able to complete other less important infrastructure such as research hospitals. In fact, our continuing problem is our energy deficit, which is now up to 50 megacredits per year. Basically, we have more infrastructure than we can support with our current energy allocation. Our trade surplus covers this deficit, but it gets worse every year.”

“The Progressives know how to fix that – grow out of it, and make our population and resource base expand to accommodate the infrastructure, regardless of the consequences,” Colin said with a sour voice. He knew what the crisis in Parliament meant, but was not quite resigned to it.

“In addition,” Mohammed continued, “our research rate is still three times that of other factions, but we are unable to pull ahead due to technology trades by these others while they deny us these same benefits – quite short sighted of them, really. Of particular concern are the Cyborgs, who have a significant lead in Discovery technology, and are close to a breakthrough in Pre-sentient Algorithms, a vital espionage breakthrough. We are catching up, but it will be difficult and will likely take a decade.”

“Any way to further increase our research rate?” Ling asked. The last bit of information on the Cyborgs and their likely espionage breakthrough had gotten her undivided attention.

“The only method would be to decrease our psych allocation from 10 percent to zero, and then have our base commanders deal with the consequences, which may not be pleasant. They will surely object. The only other option is to grow our energy production by remote harvesting or a greater population base,” he said.

“Another pitch for the Progressive’s solution to everything - growth?” Colin asked.

“No,” Mohammed said, “just stating the options.”

Terry turned to Ling, “Who goes our military buildup?”

“In it’s formative stages,” she said. “As we agreed, we won’t start until we get our bioenhancement centers completed, then we will start building en-mass. I have revised my projections to require five bioenhancement centers to accommodate both navy and land forces. That still may not be enough, but it will have to do for now.”

“Colin, special projects?” Terry asked.

“None at present due to our agreement with the Cult not to pursue the Planetary Energy Grid,” he said. “But, the Jungle is now ready for the two new bases Ling suggested, and the formers have been removing fungus and planting forests over the northern and southern reaches of the Jungle for over 10 years. We might want to consider stockpiling supply crawlers in case a Project comes along, though – that way we can complete it very quickly, if the need arises.”

“A good idea,” Terry said, making a not to himself. “Dee, any word on the diplomatic front?”

“Yes. I was able to broker a peace between the University and Spartans, who signed a blood truce. That was the only bright spot. In case anyone didn’t hear, I was re-elected Planetary Governor. My only supporter was Chairman Yang.” Eyebrows shot up at that. “As expected, Mistress Eve supported Pravin Lal, who voted for himself. We needn’t have worried, though. I could have elected myself even if all the other factions voted against us. I was disappointing, though.”

“That’s it for reports. Any other business?” Terry asked. There was none and the Council adjourned.

*~*~*~*

Mistress Eve,

It is clear you have misinterpreted my message to Mr. Malister, so I will be blunt: the Gaian Council considers it highly likely that the Cult is responsible for the espionage against the Peacekeepers, and the resulting war declaration by the Peacekeepers against the Gaians. My private message to you was to allow you the chance to help us understand if we were mistaken. You chose, instead, to throw accusations at us, demanding ‘hard evidence’ when you know there is none, and then calling a Planetary Council vote to challenge my position as Governor.

Moreover, your refutation of our critical circumstantial evidence is less than persuasive. You provided no proof that your acquisition of the likely Peacekeeper technology was peaceful, merely an assertion. Likewise, your explanation for the Cult probe teams near Peacekeeper territory was also a little too convenient. So, the fact remains that only the Cult and Gaians had the ability and resources to undertake this act of treachery against the Peacekeepers. We don’t have the offending technology, and you do. Therefore, our conclusion that the Cult is almost certainly the culprit in this episode stands.

From now on consider all correspondence open since it is clear your efforts at back-door diplomacy are fruitless. I do not like having to do this, but your apparent actions have spoken louder than your Machiavellian words. I will personally publish all our correspondence for all to see on this and all other matters. Your diplomats and informal agents are free to contact us through official channels, but will no longer be allowed access to Council members in other venues.

The Gaian Council and Parliament will stand by our previously negotiated agreements. However, any further real or apparent actions by the Cult against the Gaians will lead to a reassessment of these agreements, and it is likely that they will not be unilaterally adjudicated in your favor.

Deirdre Skye and the Gaian Council

*~*~*~*

Cult, MY 2261

Lady Skye and the Gaian advisory council,

I was both shocked and appalled at your response. It only served to convince me that you were the responsible party in the theft! Why should we have to “prove” or “explain” anything to you based on the “so called” evidence you sent us. You laid out a completely hypothetical analysis based on circumstantial evidence and you then present it to us as if it were the actual “facts” of the case when it was far, far from it! We offered to you, when it was not required by us at all, how we obtained the technology through a trade and where our anti-espionage teams came to be located due to a training exercise. Even your impressive empathy-guild cannot locate troops once they leave a city, as did our anti-espionage teams did. Your response is, and I quote,

“You provided no proof that your acquisition of the likely Peacekeeper technology was peaceful, merely an assertion. Likewise, your explanation for the Cult probe teams near Peacekeeper territory was also a little too convenient. So, the fact remains that only the Cult and Gaians had the ability and resources to undertake this act of treachery against the Peacekeepers.”

Why should WE have to provide any proof! All I have from you is your assertion, based on circumstantial evidence, that the Gaians do not have the technology so the Cult must have done it! WHY SHOULD WE ACCEPT YOUR STATEMENT WHEN YOU DO NOT ACCEPT OURS!!! It is an outrage!! Typical of the arrogant stance your pursuit of wealth that has been bred into your people! Perhaps you would be willing to let our intelligence units to land at one of your cities and install a program so that we can VERIFY your statements!! I hardly doubt that you would be willing to do this since from every report I have seen by my military indicates each of your border/coastal cities are manned by several anti-espionage units! Why go to the extreme cost of building such a force if it was not to be used to protect your computer systems and the lies that wish to spread about us and to cover your actions! THE ARRAGOANCE OF YOUR LOGIC ASTOUNDS ME!!! Many of the other factions have ships, isles of the deep and espionage teams, including YOU, so why should we just ASSUME that based on your analysis, something that we can not verify, that it was us and not YOU!

What astounds me even more is that instead of pleading your innocence to the entire planet and to try to prove your right by actions and honesty I have reports that your people are planning on a massive military buildup along with another switch to an industrial economy!! Your current actions only serve to reinforce the opinion of not only myself but the others as well that you were AT FAULT!!! Honest people do not embark on a massive military buildup when they are trying to prove that they were NOT at fault!!

The bottom line to this entire issue is we have only your word that your data, which can be interpreted to reach several different conclusions by the way, is the true events and not the events that are actually supported by the hard evidence the Peacekeepers have. In turn, since we did not fully explain our actions to you, in the detail that you required, something that I and my nation take great offense to our sovereignty, we are now condemned as the culprits by you and as such you wish us to be your ally no longer. I think that correctly sums up the statement. Since you did not even deem to address my request for a further investigation on your part to determine if “rogue” elements might be operating in your military I can only assume that this was not even attempted. You’re non response on this issue only indicates that you have made a decision that we are responsible regardless of what the evidence has to show. Once again, the Gaians show their true colors for all to see!

In conclusion, if your people wish to insulate themselves from the rest of the Planet so be it. If you do not want to be our friend, so be it. If you wish to continue to fling unsubstantiated statements at us that only serve to continue to build bad blood between us, then so be it. It seems the only friend the Gaians need is their wealth and the power to exploit Planet to squeeze every ounce of resources from her and to terra-form every last sector of land into a Gaian vision of earth. I see no further need to communicate with you as well since all you wish to do is shift the blame to us for your foul deeds no matter what the data suggests!

You might come to regret that you took this path with us. We people of the Planet have done everything in our power to aid you in your times of distress. During your ecological disaster and the riots that plague your cities the Rangers have been there to aid your people. Not once have we asked for any repayment for our generosity so your actions only serve to reinforce how ungrateful you and your people are! For SHAME!!! What must honest people do to earn your trust and support! Perhaps allow our people to breed like rabbits so that they over-populate, forcing you to develop more lands to feed and support them forever changing the face of Planet! Or perhaps we could worship the almighty energy credit so that we can all praise the energy credit together and seek unity, harmony and peace with the energy credit! If you had asked us to help you in your hour of need again to help prove your innocence we would have come with open arms. If you would have offered up your pleadings for repentance for the evil deeds you did and promised never to do them again, we would have stood with you and fought for your right to remain as Planet leader. But no!! You seek only to discredit us with no solid proof that even the Peacekeepers do not believe since if they did they would have called off their vendetta against you and turned on us. NO ONE BELIEVES YOU!!! And what is most important that needs to be said is why should we!!!

May the light of Cha Dawn keep you safe and light your way into the heart of love and understanding!

Mistress Eve

Daughter of the Great Prophet of the Planet, Cha Dawn

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Spy master Martese walked into his small office and locked the door behind him. He had just left Eve and helped draft her response to the Gaians last communiqué. The Gaians were idots to think anyone on Planet would believe their flimsy arguments so no one could verify their actions or data. If anything more positive should come of Eve’s plan it would be the access to the Gaian network without a tricky and very risky espionage infiltration. Suddenly the spy master realized that someone else was in the room and he quickly reached under his robes for his dagger and las-gun.

“Relax my friend, it is only I, the Prophet!” A very old looking man stepped out from the shadows and very slowly pulled down his hood to reveal his face. It took only a few seconds for Markese to visual verify that this was the Prophet. Older and very worn by the elements but the great Prophet all the same. The spy master quickly dropped to one knee and said.

“All hail the light of the Planet, the true and only Prophet of the Planet of one being with the Planer, now and forever!”

“Thank you for the that grand greeting. Now, we have work to do. I need for you to fill in the blanks on several things and I need for you to order a rejuvenation treatment without alerting anyone else. I think you know who to call so that this can be quietly.” Cha replied while sitting down in a chair and letting out a loud sigh.

“My Prophet, why not announce your return for all to know, why come to me?”

“You already know that answer my friend. For me to return without preparations would only lead to a great struggle. Things must be planned and plans must start now. I want to return in two turns so there is little time to get things done. Now, I think we can use…..” The Prophet began to rattle off instruction after instruction, which the spymaster recorded in his photographic brain. Somehow the Prophet knew he would never betray him to the other leaders and that trust in him was something he had not known for some time.

*~*~*~*

Gaia’s Landing, MY 2262

“It’s over, my friend,” Terry said. “Parliament voted to switch to a Planned economy as part of our war preparations.”

Colin nodded. He was tired, very tired. The attempt to re-form the Progressive Greens had failed, as had the attempt to build a blocking coalition from the smaller factions. Even the Planet Greens, who have strong links to the Cult religion, bolted and starting acting in an obstructionist manner. “Did they make any preparations to prevent social chaos?”

Terry shook his head. “No. They said that was the responsibility of the base managers. We’ll have to keep an eye on that since some of the base managers are likely to have their own agendas. Oh, the switch from a Green economy has already caused some chaos. That’s just a foretaste of things to come.”

“I’ll tell the rest of the Council, if they doesn’t already know,” Colin said.

*~*~*~*

Ling sipped her tea, drawing out the moment to savor the aromas and tastes. The warmth of the hand thrown ceramic cup seeped into her hands. Dee helped Colin and Mohammed make sandwiches in the kitchen, and Terry finished setting the table. Ling had volunteered to help, but Colin had pooh-poohed that, saying she had done more than enough when she brought the double fudge torte and real whipping cream. Colin reacted as if she had made a friend for life.

“What are we going to do about the Cult?” Colin asked to no one in particular.

“Let ‘em rot,” Ling said, her voice slightly detached.

Dee looked over at her in annoyance. “I’ll send a letter acknowledging the receipt of their correspondence. I don’t know what else to say.”

“It is most unfortunate that Mistress Eve has chosen to be so hostile,” Mohammed said as he cut the leek sandwiches crosswise. “I do not understand her defensive tone.”

“We did accuse them of the theft. Maybe Eve doesn’t know that someone in her organization stole the data,” Colin said.

Ling snorted. “She’s a control freak. She knows, or she could know if she wanted to. Her response is desperate, and she went on to retread all the old complaints against us – over population, secrecy, military might. Same old, same old.”

“Maybe we could allay some of her concerns by allowing them free access to our databanks,” Colin said.

“Considering the Cult’s track record that seems highly unwise,” Terry said.

Colin didn’t press the point. “What do we do about them, then?”

“Ignore them,” Ling said, “and watch very closely when their sneaks are formed, leave, and when more occurrences happen. Document their case against them. We could also consider an informal blockade, but we don’t have the resources.”

“That’s pretty hostile, Ling,” Dee said. “If they did that to us it’d be an act of war.”

“Just a suggestion,” she said. “We can’t do it anyway, not yet at least.”

“Enough of this business. Dinner is served,” Colin announced as he put a silver platter with sandwiches by the large bowl of soup. A bowl of freshly cut fruit was nearby, as was a carafe of piping hot coffee. Colin had horded the cream and cake near his plate, of course.

*~*~*~*

Dear Mistress Eve,

Thank you for your correspondence. It has been forwarded to the appropriate parties for consideration. If you have any additional questions or concerns feel free to contact the Gaian Embassy staff.

Jonathan Millhone, Assistant Diplomatic Attaché

[Hydro]

Cult, MY 2262

Eve sat with her close advisors listening to the latest reports while they all sat in her private quarters sitting on pillows and cushions.

“Great mistress, I feel that our relations with the Gaians have definitely hit the low mark. Their response to your last message was hardly even a response. I suspect that their non-response indicates that they will not open their data banks so that we can confirm their data so their actions make them all the more suspicious.” The spymaster reported, “Also our team of espionage units have left the northern base as planned and are now in route to the Cyborg lands. They will take a route that I only know of so that we can hope to avoid any leaks or contact with the Gaians which is important since our isle transport taking the new colony pod to the isthmus colony site encountered a Gaian patrol foil in our waters. I can only assume that they are probing deeper into our waters seeking more direct information on us.”

“Have they made any overt military actions?” Eve asked.

“No, great mistress.”

“Excellent. Based on their track records I bet they will do nothing. For them to attack us in anyway would be admitting to everyone that they were at fault. The Gaians have never been military adventuress at heart so I doubt they will start now.” Eve turned towards Ranger Ramos.

“Great mistress, as according to the great Prophet we have completed our first habitat complex at Mind of the Planet. In time the home islands will all get habitat complexes but no others since it would put too much stress on planet. Our core cities will provide more resources in time for our people and in accordance with the plan share that windfall with the other cities.”

“Excellent Ranger Ramos. Make sure that the bio-labs get priority first in raising more worms and isles of the deep as soon as possible. We need to augment our forces so that the sinking our sea colony pod does not happen again.” Eve was greatly distressed over the loss of their first sea colony. Fookosh had asked if he could assign an isle for escort but she had chosen to use the isle instead to convey the espionage team. She took little solace in the fact that the report indicated that even if an isle had been there it most likely would not have been able to intercept the rogue isle in time.

“Great Mistress, I appreciate your priority in building up our native forces but we need to move more quickly I think.” Fookosh added. Eve had a meeting earlier with Fookosh and promised him top priority but the pressing need to build infrastructure first while they were still at peace took greater priority.

“General, I understand your need greatly, perhaps more than the others. So long as we are not actively at war I see no reason to proceed with a crash program. When war does come it will be at our choosing! We will dictate the time and place as we have always done in the past. The Gaians and the other factions are children when compared to both my father’s planning and mine in this regard! We have avoided direct conflict with all of our neighbors and when choose to do so we soundly defeated the Hive with the appropriate amount of force. The Cult prospers by our expert dealings with the other factions while the Gaians are forced to research all of their technology by themselves. We maintain parity in this regard. We could be as powerful as they are in other areas but that would mean we would have to sacrifice our morals and ethics. Something I am not willing to do for anyone!” Eve quickly got up and left the room indicating that the meeting was over.

*~*~*~*

Gaia’s Landing, MY 2263

“The chaos isn’t as bad as we thought it would be,” Terry said. “Only six bases went into riots. But, parliament ordered that we continue on a Planned economy for the next year.”

Colin groaned. Dee had no reaction.

“I think we can expect many more riots in the next year as base governors have even more trouble keeping a lid on discontent,” he continued. “Most bases are on the edge. Colin and I have spoken to a few base governors but only a few took precautionary measures to prevent unrest. Most cited ‘a duty to give resources demanded by the voters’ and other short cited arguments. They’ll likely pay for it in the next election, since voters don’t like riots.”

“Any gage on parliament? All I’ve seen in the vids and some private chats is that the dynamic is fluid, and polarized,” Colin asked.

“That’s about right,” Terry said. “The Progressives have formed a working super-majority, allying themselves with the newly formed Defense Party, which promotes a huge increase in military spending, and the remnants of the Green Progressives, which pulled out of an affiliation with the Greens last year over internal power squabbles.”

‘Then the Greens are almost alone,” Dee said.

Terry turned to Dee. “I’m afraid so. Even the Planet party abandoned them, saying they weren’t ‘pure’ enough, and repeating many of the Cult arguments. They’ve stuck to their guns, but their in the wilderness right now.”

“The Progressives should send a big thank you to Eve and her little stunt,” Colin said. His voice was sour. “They’ve backed us into a corner, and are causing us to waste huge amounts of resources, and given the Progressives the excuse they need to do exactly what the Cult doesn’t want – a Gaian population boom.”

“Yes, it is sad, isn’t it,” Ling said.

She didn’t sound sad at all to Colin’s ears.

“Everything they’ve done to weaken us has only increased our feeling of unease, especially in Parliament, and that feeling of discontent makes us feel like we aren’t secure,” she continued. “I find it ironic, really. By trying to isolate us they are driving segments of our people to try to go it alone, and to do that we need to have a huge resource base. I doubt the Progressives would have gotten a majority and called a vote of no-confidence if they hadn’t framed us for their actions against the Peacekeepers, and permanently damaged our tentative relations with them.”

“You’re just getting what you want,” Colin said. “You’ve been a supporter of the Progressives for decades. Admit it.”

Ling sat back in her chair. “I support them when it seems logical to me, like right now. I was supporting the Greens before this chaos struck. I’m pragmatic, and will bend based on current needs and conditions, like a green willow. Are you?”

“Some of us have scruples, and a set of core beliefs,” Colin said.

“As do I,” Ling retorted. “They’re just a little different than yours.”

Colin looked at her, deciding if he liked her today, and decided he didn’t.

“We do have some good news,” Mohammed said. “Our first hybrid forest was completed here at Landing this year, which has massively increased our food and energy production. A side benefit is that the integration of native and Earth life forms in a symbiotic environment has made our people more at ease, increasing our stability. I hope we can recreate this at our other bases. The price is high, though, since it takes a decade or so to accumulate the resources to integrate the Chiron and Earth ecosystems – quite an investment.”

“But worth every joule,” Dee said. “It proves Cha Dawn and his erratic daughter wrong. Earth and Chiron life can live side by side, just as we thought. I’ll send them this data through their embassy as a courtesy. I doubt they’ll miss the point. I’ll also point out that, although our bases produce more than twice the industrial output as their best base, we have no environmental pollution, disproving their rhetoric about our population pressures and impacts on Planet.”

“Make it polite, Dee,” Colin advised. “No use antagonizing them further.

Dee nodded.

*~*~*~*

Cult, MY 2263

The full command council meeting had just begun with Eve just about to give her report to the members when the doors to the council chambers were opened and there stood the great prophet of the Planet, Cha Dawn. He was older than he looked before, early middle aged rather than the youthful, almost boyish look he was known for. He was dressed in a simple orange robe and cap with a long tassel at the back. Everyone in the room had turned as the doors opened and now they stood dumbstruck. Eve quickly recovered and made the appropriate greeting.

“All praise and honor to you the great Prophet of the Planet our leader, our spiritual guide to the greater understanding of this new world!”

“Thank you my daughter and may the blessings of Planet both you in mercy and understanding.” Cha walked to the head of the table and waited a brief second as Eve quickly rose and moved to an empty adjacent seat. Everyone looked very pleased by his arrival with the only exception being Ranger One who looked to be in a state of shock.

“I thank you once again. First, I want to thank my daughter for her stewardship during my absence. It was hard yet rewarding work and now she has other tasks before her. Eve you will set out in the morning for the southern continent and take command there. The Pholus ridge colonies need greater supervision and I want to see more improvements done in this area. You will, I am sure, quickly reorganize the leaders down there and bring back some purpose and determination to them. I want to commend our master caretaker of restoring so much of the fungus and maintaining a good balance in his efforts to preserve and provide resources to our people. However, I see the expansion of forests as a greater threat than ever to the very soul of Planet. I just completed reading a letter from the Gaian leader detailing their efforts on harmonizing earth and Planet eco-systems as if that were something to be proud of. I will respond to her in due course. However, it has become apparent that earth biological vectors will continue to grow and fester on Planet until they become the dominant life form on Planet. I see no other path at this time to discourage this view.” Ranger Ramos quickly interrupted Cha.

“My Prophet then you will call a holy war to force the other factions to see reason and learn to live as we do in complete harmony with Planet. It will glorious as our forc-.”

“NO! There will be no holy war of cleansing, not by us. We will continue with the plan created by Eve to cut off any allies the Gaians could make with the exception of us. I think this plan is sound. The Gaians are paranoid lunatics that actually believe the Peacekeepers offer any sort of serious military threat to them. To change our tactics now would send mixed signals and that is something I do not wish to do.” Cha stood up and bowed his head and spread his arms out and gave a silent and quick blessing on them all and then turned and left. The remaining group milled about for a while then slowly filtered out of the room wondering what was in store for them now.


Lady Skye,

Greetings and all blessings to you from Cha Dawn the Prophet of the Planet. I have returned to my people at what seems a great moment of need by us all. First I wish to thank you for sending us the data on tree/hybrid farms. I cannot argue with the facts or even the results of the data. The data alone speaks volumes over the ability we have ALL gained in changing the face of Planet to become more earthlike. What your report does not contain is any mention of limits or thresholds. What I wish to ask you is a simple question: when do you plan on halting your population explosion? Will each of your cities utilize every square inch of land to provide resources and food for your people? We have always seemed to argue around the issue at hand but I will propose it once again. Do you have any plans at halting your vertical and horizontal expansion any time soon? What thresholds due you see or even think to place on your society? You and your people seem to be running at full speed to do something but what is your basic goal? Is it security, or is it prosperity? Why do you and your people continue to tolerate the riots and looting all for the lack of the basic resources!?

From our perspective it seems you have neither plans nor any goals other than reacting to shadowy threats that your empth-guild should be able to alert you to. Allow me to state once again that we wish to be your Planet friends and as such will stand with you in any form. It seems your people still believe that we are responsible for your theft of the technology. I hope that we can put this incident behind us and move forward. I hope that in time you will come to your senses and see that the People of the Planet are good people that only wish to help Planet to survive and to maintain the pristine condition that we found it in. I hope we can find common ground on that issue.

Lastly, I want to commend your efforts to help save your people from themselves. Your appeals to the Gaian rioters touched me greatly and we People of the Planet stand ready to aid you in your efforts. I want to leave you with this one thought; just because we can do a thing does not mean we should do a thing. Please keep that in mind when you and your people begin the destruction of a fungus field and ask yourselves why you are doing this?

First Prophet of the Planet

Cha Dawn

*~*~*~*

Dreams of Green, MY 2264

Dear Cha Dawn,

Welcome back, and I am glad to hear that you are well. Your return brings me some hope that the Cult and Gaians might come to a better understanding. In case you have not been informed, the Gaian Council and Parliament believe that the Cult is responsible for the theft of the Peacekeeper data, and Pravin’s resulting declaration of war on us. I can’t stress enough how this incident has affected the Council and Parliament, and this intense negative reaction was only heightened by your daughter’s acidic responses to our back-door efforts to resolve the situation. I will hope you teach her some manners, and some sense.

I’m afraid our relations can not improve until the guilty parties are apprehended and appropriately punished, and this would seem to be in your hands. Until this happens relations between the Cult and Gaians will be formal, and we will keep you at arms length. The actions of Eve, or her minions, have taught us that the Cult can not be trusted, and this opinion will remain until proven to be incorrect or in need of revision.

Our current population boom is directly attributable to the Cult. The insecurity generated by the declaration of war, and the insidious actions of someone who pretended to be our friend, has sent shock waves through our democratic society. I can influence, but not control, the actions of Parliament – we do not have a dictatorship – and the Parliament is doing as it sees fit based on their understanding of events. The war declaration and Eve’s government’s acts caused our less ecologically friendly factions to gain control, much to my distress. This time I will not stand in their way, or make any grand statement or action, since in part I agree with them: Planet is a much less friendly place now with both the Peacekeepers at war with us, and the Cult in a shadow war against our interests.

I would expect that our population boom will continue for some years. Gaia’s Landing has achieved its maximum population of 16 thousand, and has entered a Golden Age – the first on Planet, I believe. Due to our base separation we will use all the land by the time the population boom is complete, or Parliament decides to terminate it or there is a change in government. This close spacing will result in more specialists, likely empaths, which will bring benefits to us all. You can rest assured that, although the Council has been sidelined in this recent nasty diplomatic catastrophe, we will make sure there is no environmental pollution and do our best to quell unrest.

Walk with Planet,
Dee

[Hydro]

Cult, MY 2264

Lady Skye,

First, after my return I did a complete investigation into the infiltration of the Peacekeeper network. I contacted Pravin and had lengthy discussions with him and based on the physical evidence at the crime scene he and I have to say that we are still convinced that it was you, no, your Gaian espionage teams that committed the offense, not us. I know that you have sent us these extensive files on where this unit is and where this ship was and so and so on but let me speak plainly, so what! We can neither confirm nor deny any of the information you sent since we have no access to your systems. I have had conversations with Lal, Yang, and Zakahrov and none of them believe any of the evidence, no let me rephrase that, your circumstantial evidence. If you would be willing to allow a Cult intelligence team to enter freely into a Gaian city and gain access to your files then perhaps we could then all talk or at least agree on the validity of the information you claim as a fact rather than the hard physical evidence that Pravin Lal is already in possession of. With that said I think we no longer should discuss this issue until you and your people are willing to see reason.

As to the issue that the Cult is somehow responsible for your peoples paranoia that is plain foolishness. Let us speak plainly once again. First, your people have always looked for any excuse to “fall back” into an industrial economy in order to line their pockets and increase military spending. Even when you had no enemies I do believe your people frequently switched to an industrial economy out of greed. To now stand and blame us for the current situation you face is all the more ridiculous. You are the leader of a great people, act like one! Take charge and inform your people of the facts. Even we people of the People with our limited intelligence gathering ability can discern that your faction is equal to nearly all of the remaining factions combined!! To now suggest that you even need more weapons and ships and guns on the pretext that you have circumstantial evidence that we have somehow framed you for this crime is lunacy! You have always worked to increase your military power in times when you were at peace and at war. If you want to blame us for your current political failings, then you are free to do so, we cannot stop you. It seems obvious that the mob rules your faction and not the clear-headed voices of reason. Thank Planet that we never dabbled in mob rule as you have done. No, it is far better to allow more intelligent people who are removed from the pangs and demands of the mob to rule. All I wish to add to this point is that we will never admit to something we never did. You have no physical proof that you can present in a planet council session that any of the other leaders will even consider as valid. No, you can continue to tilt at windmills and blame us for stealing babies, or the change in the wind or people getting old but do not blame us for the theft of the data when all the evidence shows you are at fault. I truly worry late at night what your society is capable of if they were ever really faced with a true challenge rather than the false crisis you now use to bolster your foul ends. In conclusion, there will be no trial of Cult espionage members, no further investigation by my government into what we consider a Peacekeeper/Gaian issue. If you wish to allow us and the other factions’ access to your date system then we can re-address the issue again at that time.

Also, I do believe that perhaps Pravin Lal might have beaten you to the race on this “golden age” of prosperity. I for one cannot find anything more revolting. People need struggle, hardships and challenges to survive and grow. All you have done is to create an environment in which the rich to get richer, the medium class got richer and the poor got, well something I suppose. If you really want to impress Cha Dawn start plowing you’re a few sectors of land free of earth biological vectors and replant some fungus as we have done. Time we will tell if you are right or us…

First Prophet of the Planet

Cha Dawn

*~*~*~*

Gaia’s Landing, MY 2265

Cha Dawn,

We will have to agree to disagree on the espionage, and as such we can never be friends. We can, however, be civil and I will make sure some lines of communication are kept open unless we are profoundly provoked.

It is clear from you statements that you have no great empathy for democracy, as I have. Democracy is messy, and it is fraught with episodes of what you call ‘mob rule’. However, it has great strengths, the best of these being that a people will rise to the occasion, and if you entrust them with their own fate they will, over all, make the best of it. There will be missteps, but in general it is my opinion that the good far outweigh the bad. Other alternatives don’t even need to be mentioned, such as Yang’s hideous police state, or a fundamentalist regime that enforced a religious ideology on its people.

I will agree with you that we Gaians are caught in a spiral of growth and vertical expansion. The vast majority of the time we are much more stable, as your society is, but at this point our political leaders have determined that growth is preferable to stagnation. The pitfall of this approach is that the bigger you grow the more you have to defend, and the bigger your defense needs seem to be. After all, the Cult and the Gaians have roughly the same number of cities, but we have four times the maintenance requirements. Why is this needed? To support the larger population. And then, we have to grow to support the infrastructure, and put it to good use.

That said, I am not convinced that it is entirely bad to grow. In the past our growth phases have been dangerous affairs with outbreaks of environmental pollution and surging social chaos. But, that has seemingly stopped. We haven’t had any environmental pollution for a long, long time, and this last year of population boom surprised me – there were no riots. Why? Basically, most of our bases are utilizing all their territory, and new population are specialists. So, you see we aren’t using any more resources during our growth. Moreover, our growth is Planet-friendly. Regardless of your ideological warnings about the evils of industry, the evidence from Gaian lands shows that people can live in harmony with Planet. Are the limits? Yes, there are. It seems pointless now for use to expand now for any reason but scientific research areas, like the Nexus and Monolith Ring, or in areas where it is strategically important, like the two new bases we established in the Jungle to speed ship traffic between the seas to the east and west.

You may be right about Pravin’s golden age. However, I doubt he’d be able to maintain it for a population of 16 thousand. I am strangely happy about this, and am not sure why. I guess it might be since I want Gaians to be content, or if possible ecstatic, about their lives. There is no reason to deny them the fruits of their labors, as long as it isn’t so short sighted that it destroys our homes and the lands we must live with. Our prosperity has a very wide base, and as our bases get bigger it seems only to get wider to encompass all. If we are lucky then Gaia’s Landing will be a model for all of our bases, even if that is in the future. I foresee a time when our larger bases will have no unhappy people, and everyone will be content with their lives, or will be spurred to new creative heights. That is my dream.

You might understand the Gaian point of view better if you remembered that those around us have frequently declared war on us for no reason that is discernable. For instance, the University and Gaians were in a cold war for almost 40 years, and this was at a time when we were very vulnerable. Luckily Zak has been a good friend since then, and we value his friendship. Lal has declared war on us twice now, the latest due to Cult actions (but I don’t want to rehash that issue again). Yang even had a throw, although be paid off his bribe and he was sated. So, the world can be a hostile and irrational place. All we want is our little piece of peace.

One of your last questions is a good one: what are we capable of. The answer, my dear Cha Dawn, is a great deal. We have proven our ability to build, and our general pacifistic nature, and I see no reason why this should change. For the time being we are more than content to protect what we have built, and in doing so enhance the security of our people. We haven’t had any adventures in conquering our neighbors for gain, as you did, I might add. Chairman Yang is now effectively in Cult chains due to your aggression. We are not that way and it would take a great deal to stir any significant marital spirit. As a rule we would rather negotiate than fight, but make no mistake that we will fight if pressed against the wall – we are pacifists, but not stupid. I only say this since your society seems to understand naked aggression in the form of conquering bloodlust, and political assassinations. Aggressive people sometimes only understand when concepts are put in aggressive terms. Understand that we put assassins in jail, not in government, and anyone in our government that conquered another people without a very good reason would be branded a war criminal.

One last note – Children of Earth is growing very fast, and we will have to form colony pods to remove the excess population. Per our agreement, this will take time since colony pods are expensive. The colonists will be removed at our soonest opportunity. We are also planning on placing a colony in the Monolith Ring, as we said long ago, to study these ancient ruins. I will be sure to forward our results to you.

I trust our relations can improve, but for the moment we are at an impasse.

Walk with Planet,
Dee

[Hydro]

Cult, MY 2265

Lady Skye,
I will be brief. First, let me say that your population growth is nothing short of disaster. We grant that everything you say about not causing pollution is correct. However, the simple fact remains that your people are breeding like rabbits!! You continue to put stress on the living fabric of Planet by tearing out sector-by-sector of fungus and yet you do nothing to restore even one small sector!! I am sure YOU believe that your growth is responsible and regardless of the reasons (which I think are imaginary to begin with since no one has attacked your people in over +100 turns) you continue to expand your population with little to no restraint what so ever! Simply put I am sure the early colonists in America felt the same way as you do now that there is plenty of land for all and look what happened to the native American Indian population! Another interesting analogy is the introduction of rabbits in Australia. In the beginning the rabbits multiplied and there was little harm until the rabbits began to destroy ALL of the indigenous plant life as they “boomed” their way to becoming an ecological disaster. 100 turns from now or 200 turns from now what will history right about you and your work? Will they say how Lady Skye worked to preserve large tracts of land to remain pristine and free of earth biological vectors or will you go down in the history books as the leader who destroyed an entire planet’s eco-system all for the desire of more wealth and prosperity! How do you want to be seen Lady Skye? That is the question before you and your people now. We people of the Planet are working around the clock to restore as much fungus as we take out for our simple needs. You cannot even attempt to do this now since you have to use EVERY SECTOR OF LAND AND SEA TO FEED YOUR PEOPLES needs for food and resources!! We grant you every point you make about how both tree farms and hybrid forests are able to thrive on this planet but the simple fact of the matter is trees were never part of Planet’s ecosystem. Also, from what the geological record indicates this Planet has never had any form of trees on it at all. In fact, from our studies Planet has had one of the most stable ecological systems every seen, especially when compared to earth! There has been some force that has kept Planet in this condition through the ages and my people and I believe it has to do with the fact that Planet is alive and sentient! The neural net that fungal stalks create generate is uncharitable!! Even you have to agree with that statement since we discovered this when we completed the xenoempathy dome.

So, we have reached an impasse. On the surface our philosophy concerning Planet looks to be same. However, when you boil it down we People of the Planet view ourselves as servants to Planet and you treat Planet as your servant. I have said many times before just because you can do a thing does not mean you SHOULD do a thing. The science and spirituality of this issue would be lost on the masses so that is why we have never ever contemplated a more democratic society. How can a factory worker who assembles terra-formers truly understand and appreciate the complex issues and science that this issue has. The answer is he cannot, his votes follow his base desires for food, wealth and the pursuit of pleasure. These are not compatible with the preservation of a Planet wide conscience.

In time, I think your science will prove what we have always know to be the case that Planet is ALIVE and that your policies will have done much to kill that sentient creature that we know as Planet.

Lastly, as I have stated before you will get no apology from the Cult concerning the theft of the technology. As Planetary Governor you have the right to call meeting of all the leaders of Planet to present your circumstantial evidence but you have not done so. The reason is clear for all to see, no one would believe you! The hard and physical evidence all points to you. You can blame us till the end of time but no other faction will take you seriously. It is time for you to admit your guilt in this matter and move on. As I have asked before and you have never responded with a answer to the question if you had initiated an investigation into the possibility that a covert Gaian espionage team carried out the theft without your council approval. It seems to be more likely that this is the case than the whimsical idea that we had anything to do with it.

Once again I have carried on far longer than I had planned. In closing, I will say that I will not honor the accusations you leveled at us about our “evil society” since they are not true. The true evil is the evil we all see each turn it seems as Gaians destroy Gaian property in vast riots over the lack of resources. Brother killing brother for consumer goods and food, now what could be more evil than that! As for Chairman Yang being our slave I would hardly say that is the case at all. The Hive still exists and it thrives and doing so under our enlightened guidance. Yang’s views were too extreme and his poor people were paying the price. Now he is building infrastructure and other more noble efforts and not at the expense of his people. I sometimes think that you a jealous of the fact that Hive and Cult have become stalwart friends both working toward a greater good on this planet while you are shunned by all of the other factions due to your arrogance and greed. Perhaps you should take the time to truly understand how other people view things and then try to at least meet them halfway. We at least have worked for over a hundred turns to build planet temples in your land to help your people and to learn from them. That cannot be said of you. So I would like to offer this olive branch to you, I am officially inviting you and a small group of your trusted advisors to visit Dawn of the Planet so that we can have direct talks. I can send an isle of the deep to bring you or you can come by your own transport. I do hope you will take us up on our offer of friendship so that we can try to teach you the true workings of Planet and of our people.

First Prophet of the Planet

Cha Dawn


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++


Cha walked around the table and stretched and looked at his most trusted aide.

“Do you think it wise to invite her my prophet?” The spymaster asked.

“Yes, once we can sit down and talk and really communicate one on one I think I can win her over to my cause. What she has to understand is that we will do everything in our power to save Planet. She on the other hand can work to help us in this cause or she can block us. One path has the possibility of great rewards the other will be a path of darkness for us all. The main thing she must understand it will be the Planet we are working to save not anyone person or faction. The goal of the society or faction must be second to that of Planet. That I fear will be the sticking point because how can she ever convince her people to give up when they have never had to do that before while we practice this each day.”

“Perhaps you are right but I will swear by all of my training that she will never come. This Ling will advise her it is a trap and that we are waiting to kill her. She is devious and sees much behind the smoke and mirrors. The others will advise her not to come since it will seem that she has admitted that Gaians were at fault for the technology.” The spymaster rose and walked with Cha to the door.

“No, she will come because at the center of heart is goodness and she will seek to try and nurture this goodness.” Cha slowly walked to the door holding the spymasters arm. The treatment had done much to erase the trials he had faced those many long years but not all of them and he doubted that they would ever be healed, it was his cross to bear…..

*~*~*~*

Gaia’s Landing, MY 2266

“You are specifically forbidden to go,” Terry said, “by order of the Parliament, and countersigned by all the members of this Council.” He handed the proclamation to Dee, who mutely accepted it.

“The very idea is foolhardy,” Mohammed said, “that Cha Dawn would expect us to trust him after the invectives he has used to describe our character, and his unequivocal support he has voice for his daughter’s actions. Unthinkable!”

“Like it or not, Dee, you’re a symbol,” Ling said. “Any of us can be replaced, but not you.”

Dee tried to see if she could detect some bitterness in Ling’s voice, but she heard none. All she heard was concern.

“They’re right this time,” Colin said. “Why don’t you invite Cha Dawn here to Gaia’s Landing? If nothing else that might assuage some of any diplomatic slight they might feel.”

“Good idea Colin,” Dee said. “I’ll do that.”

Ling’s face hardened, and her lips pursed. Although she didn’t say a word it was clear she didn’t like the idea at all.

“OK,” Dee said. “I’ll call Cha Dawn and let him know, personally, that I won’t be able to come, and that I’m inviting him here.”

“And his daughter?” Terry asked.

“I won’t dis-invite her, and if she comes then all the better. There is something to be said for meeting an adversary.”

“Good,” Terry said. “That’s settled. The only other item of business is Zak’s offer to sell Adaptive Doctrine to us, you know, the technology we stole from the Peacekeepers? He’s willing to part with it for 400 energy.”

“Then I guess that Zak doesn’t really believe that we stole the technology if he’s willing to sell it to us,” Colin asked.

“I’d guess not,” Terry said. “Thoughts?”

“I say take it,” Ling said. “That’s only two years surplus, and we’d still have a reserve of over 250 after we pay for the hybrid forest, two tree farms, and hab center. It will save us six to eight years of research, and let us catch up to Aki.”

“I agree,” Mohammed said, “after we switched from a knowledge back to a wealth value emphasis our scientific rate declined. This should help make up some of the balance.”

“Any dissent?” Terry asked. “Dee? Colin?”

Both shook their head.

“I’ll draft the recommendation to Parliament,” Terry said as he scribbled a few notes for himself.

As he was writing he looked up. “That reminds me. What are you going to say to Cha’s other points?”

“We’ve been over all the ground before, so I’ll refer him to our other letters.”

“What about his rogue Gaian ops team line?” Colin asked.

“I already dealt with that, too,” she said. “I told him that all of our teams are accounted for. What I didn’t say is that most of our ops teams are defensive only, and are infantry based instead of rover based. They couldn’t have done the job if they wanted to. Plus, anything I say is ‘circumstantial’.”

“And comparing us to the Australian rabbit plague? Or the extermination of American Indians?” Colin asked.

“I’m not going to dignify that with an answer,” Dee said. “We’re not rabbits, and no-one is being slaughtered. It all boils down to philosophy, and that’s where we differ. We believe Earth and Chiron ecosystems can co-exist, they don’t. I don’t know what else to say.”

Colin put his hand on her shoulder to pat it gently, then moved on the neglected refreshment plate.

*~*~*~*

Cult, MY 2266

Lady Skye,
I was overjoyed that the spirit of Planet has finally moved you to see reason so that we might at last sit down and discuss these most important issues face to face. With that in mind I do except your invitation and I will got to your famed Gaia’s landing provided that you in turn will make a commitment to come to Dawn of the Planet to conclude our discussions. I can leave next turn following your acceptance of this agreement. It will take me three turns to reach a University city where I can procure ground transportation to carry me the following distance. In total, I should be there in five turns. Of course I could stay for three to four turns and then we could both return to Dawn of the Planet where we can conclude our open discussions and you can see for yourself how open and warm our society is. Perhaps on our trip back to Dawn of the Planet we could make a brief stop over and have discussions with the good professor at University City. I think this is only proper since Zakharov is an important leader in our sphere of the Planet.

My entourage will comprise myself, my daughter Lady Eve, my chief of intelligence Mr. Martese, Field Marshall Fookosh and several other aides and support staff. I also have planned to have Chairman Yang accompany me as well since we are both pact brothers I feel it is appropriate that he attend all meetings with us. He will be bringing a much smaller staff since he will rely on Cult guidance and support during the trip and at the meetings. I eagerly await your response.

First Prophet of the Planet

Cha Dawn

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++

Cha finished the communiqué and sent it immediately. He had made all the preparations prior to sending the message. Cha smiled again at the look of dismay on Yang’s face when he told he that he would be coming with him on this trip. He was not sure if Yang was going to fall over in fright or disbelief. However, the memory faded when Cha woke himself up and realized that there was still much work to do. The Gaians had failed to even listen to his plea for restraint, fools. The Gaians had the worst form of government: mob rule guided by scientists turned politicians with no moral foundation of the true universe that they lived in. Someday science would prove him right and even now the little they had gleaned had convinced many that Planet was alive and had a soul, a spirit. The door alarm sounded announcing the arrival of Ranger Ramos. Cha reached over and hit the entry button. Ramos quickly swept in his robes swishing about him as he closed the distance to where Cha sat on the cushions and knelt before him.

“Oh great Prophet of the Planet, grant this poor servant peace and understanding.” Ramos bowed his head as Cha placed his hands on his head.

“Please sit Victor I have something important to talk with you about.” Ramos slid back a few feet onto some pillows and carefully arranged his robes in front of him.

“Victor, you will be in charge when, or should I say, if I depart for the Gaian capital. I am very pleased with your work these many years and you have brought the people to a much greater understanding of the Planet than I thought possible.”

“I only serve the will of the Prophet and the spirit of Planet.” Victor slightly bowed his head in response.

“No, no, you have done very well. From all indicators it seems your work over the past forty turns has changed the face of the Cult people or should I say their hearts. The acceptance of so many of the new faith, the belief that Planet has a spirit that transcends all time and space is a great achievement. With that in mind I plan to leave you in charge of the people while I am gone. I shall contact you each day and will expect a full report. Until I return you are the good shepherd looking out over the flock I have entrusted to you.” Cha slowly rose indicating the meeting was over. Ranger Ramos helped Cha to his feet and walked with him to the door.

“My Prophet, you will not be let down. The rangers will protect the people of the Planet with their lives and I will serve you with my whole heart.” Cha reached up to place his hands on Victor’s arms and thanked him again as he left. From the dark corners of the room a black robed figure stepped out and walked slowly over to Cha.

“I have everything prepared my Prophet. I have been able to penetrate his security and should anything happen that would displease you with his conduct or administration while you are gone he can be dealt with. We will be able to keep constant surveillance on him while you are gone. There is no fear in leaving now.” The spymaster reported to Cha as they both sat down on the cushions.

“I know you could do it my friend. I would not leave without knowing that no matter where I am I can deal with Ramos if I need to.”

“My Prophet, why not let Eve stay behind and carry out your will here? With a great certainty she will be a distraction to the purpose of the visit if she comes.” The spymaster asked.

“Yes, I know, I do know my friend, why else do you think she is coming!”

[Hydro]

Gaia’s Landing, MY 2267

Deirdre woke up, aware that it was dark and there was an insistent buzzing that permeated her apartment.

“Lights,” she said as she sat up, and she squinted as they came up on full illumination. “Seventy percent,” she said, and the lighting obediently dimmed, which was a relief.

The buzz started again. “I’m coming,” she said as she wrapped her cotton robe around her lithe frame and ran her fingers through her hair. She sat down at her communication station, the best on Chiron she was told. To her it was a nuisance since that only meant she could be contacted at any time and would never have the smallest personal or quiet time, like now.

“Yes,” she said.

The face of Pravin Lal appeared. Dee immediately noticed that he looked more haggard than usual; he had never borne the station of his office well, and had looked ‘old’ for as long as she could remember him.

“Hello Lady Skye,” he said. “I hope I haven’t caught you at an inopportune time.” His voice was flat.

“No,” Dee said. “I told you to call any time, and I meant it. What can I do for you?” A bit of hope sprung up in her heart. Did he finally believe that the Gaians weren’t responsible for the technology theft? And that the war was a mistake?

“These are hard times,” he started, “and I know we’ve had our differences. I want you to know that I’ve always had the utmost respect for your people.”

To Dee that sounded a bit too pat, and a little false considering what he had said about Gaian treachery in recent years. But, she didn’t interrupt to contradict him.

“We are both democracies, and have been for a long time,” he continued. Pravin paused, as if thinking over hard words. Dee let the pause continue. She was completely awake now, and aware that something odd was happening.

“Dee, our neighbors have turned against us,” he said. “The Cyborgs have launched a full scale attack on our holdings, which are scattered all over Chiron in our efforts to claim lands for expansion. No bases have been taken, yet, but we are exposed. I have also just received word that Chairman Yang also declared war.”

Lal paused again. “I’ve had to review our relationship in view of events. Although we’ve rightfully declared war on the Gaians twice you have never responded in kind, even though you could have done so. I do not think the Cyborgs will be so…measured, and Aki has refused all attempts at reconciliation.”

“I fear for my people, and I must put all other issues aside,” he said, clearly referring to the supposed Gaian theft of his technology.

A wash of pain crossed Pravin’s face. “And I’ve received news from Zakharov that you purchased the technology that disappeared from our labs from him for an astronomical fee only last year. He was quite elated at the ‘deal’, claiming to have outfoxed you. Then he summarily refused to aid us, saying we were on our own. This throws new light on Gaian culpability.”

There was another pause. “I’m willing to surrender and forgive all grievances, if you’ll use your influence to protect my people.”

Dee was stunned and couldn’t utter a word. Thoughts rushed through her mind, the primary of which was disbelief. Was the proud Pravin Lal surrendering?

Finally words came. “Of course, Pravin. I’ll help any way I can.”

Lal seemed to sag, and he said, “Thank you. My ministers will make all the arrangements. Please, talk to Aki and help her see reason.”

“I’ll to that. Immediately,” Dee said.

Pravin nodded, and then the screen went blank.

Dee wasted only a few seconds before she called an immediate emergency Council meeting. This was a political earthquake of the first order, with its epicenters at UN Headquarters and Gaia’s Landing.

*~*~*~*

Cult, MY 2267

Cha watched the sun slowly setting from his tower, the highest in Dawn of the Planet, as he was about to begin his prayers when the door opened to the balcony where he sat. Cha quickly got up and reached for his staff that also housed a laser blaster in the top. From the door emerged the master spy.

“Markese you almost became the late spymaster! What was so pressing that you needed to come up here to interrupt my prayers?” The spymaster glided across the balcony towards Cha.

“I have reports from our agents of something big that is happening with the other factions. I have no details as of yet but something major is happening that could change the power balance on Planet.” Cha looked at him for a minute then waved his hand towards the pile of cushions at the back of the balcony and they both moved to sit down.

“My Prophet, micro-wave traffic between the Gaians and the Peacekeepers is at an all time high. Also, it seems the Gaians are trying to open a dialogue with the Cyborgs. Our agents at Gaia’s Landing report that the Cyborg ambassador has been called several times to the Gaian advisory council chambers, for what purpose we do not know. Also, our special advisors to Chairman Yang report that he has had several communications with the other faction leaders but will not say what they were about other than it was just normal courtesy calls. I fear a new whirlwind might be in the making, one that we had no part in and have no control of.” The master spy waited for Cha’s reply.

“Order ALL of our informants and operatives to press everyone for maximum information. Our best source for what is happening at the Gaian Council is that fool Colin. Instruct our agent there to make contact with him and get every bit of information he can and report in at once! I will call the good chairman myself and make it clear that unless he wants to end up in a punishment sphere he had best be more forthcoming in his response to any question we put to him. What troubles me is that I have not heard any response to our last counter-offer that I sent to Lady Skye. This only seems to corroborate what you have just told me. If the Gaians are embroiled in a major conflict with “someone” or have somehow been able to “shift” alliances without our knowing then the whole purpose of our trip is now moot.” Cha sat for a moment and then said,

“Order up our native levees to full readiness. Inform Fookosh that he will need to make plans to begin preparations to repel invaders from our lands. I think it is more important than ever that our espionage teams get into the Cyborg computer files before they complete this new anti-espionage project they are working on. I fear that once up and running we will never get a chance at their systems.” Cha slowly got up with the aid of his staff and Markese.

Cha glanced back over his shoulder as he made his way from the balcony watching the last rays of the suns drop below the hills to west and shivered against the impending doom he feared might be coming.

*~*~*~*

Gaia’s Landing, MY 2268

The holocamera panned from a vista showing the rolling forests, rivers, and the sea beyond them from atop the great towers of Gaia’s Landing to the Great Commons, an open area of white pines, lovingly preserved from the first landing. As it zoomed in it was clear that a great crowd was present, and a raised platform of light gray and green. At each end of the platform were the Gaian and Peacekeeper flags, which were crossed together and fluttered jointly in the breeze. Attending the ceremony were throngs of Gaian luminaries, attired in rich flowing robes, and Peacekeeper dignitaries in their more formal attire.

Representatives of the Gaian Council, led by Lady Deirdre Skye, walked through the crowd and toward the left side of the dais, and simultaneously a delegation of Peacekeepers led by none other than Commissioner Pravin Lal himself approached. They met at the same time, and both distinguished groups walked up and were seated, side by side.

Applause rippled through the crowd. Pravin Lal rose, and the applause reached a crescendo. He held out his hand to Lady Skye, who took it. Pravin raised their united hands, and raised his free hand in a fist that turned into a wave. Deirdre’s smile widened in response to the growing roar of the crowd, and she used her free hand to wave at the crowd as Pravin was doing.

They walked together to the podium, which was emblazoned by a united symbol of the Gaian rose and the Peacekeeper UN flag.

Pravin waved down the applause and the cheers. “The hope of mankind started with Unity and its dream of a new beginning, a beginning here on Chiron. As we left Earth we knew we had brought the best with us, and it was our goal to use this to start anew, and to never repeat the tragedy of Earth. At times the journey was dark and perilous, and not without sorrow, but we arrived at our destination.

“This is not unlike today. The Gaian and Peacekeeper peoples started with a dream, so alike yet separated by misunderstanding, a dark gulf that we both yearned to overcome. Some despaired that we were forever sundered, shriven from our brothers in spirit and divided by quarrels and hate. But, then we remembered our hope in this new place, and our dream of a new beginning, and we understood. We are stronger together than we are apart, and we can put the past behind us to achieve our shared dreams and goals.

“We have learned that war is not the way, and that the joining of the Peacekeeper to the Gaian peoples will allow us to protect our new home, Chiron, and to uphold the principle we hold dear in the Charter, which both our peoples cherish.

“Never again will we allow petty disagreements to tear us apart, or to cloud our vision,” Pravin said as he looked over at Deirdre. “Never again.”

The holocam zoomed in to see a tear sliding down Deirdre’s cheek. She turned to Pravin and gave the prim, and thoroughly startled man, a big hug.

//Fade Away, Cut to Reporter//

“There you have it, Ladies and Gentleman,” the Gaian New Service announcer said. “That was the start of the ceremony formally joining the Gaian and Peacekeepers in a pact of alliance. More on the ceremony, which continued for two hours, is available at by accessing your holo sense grid.

“Highlights of the ceremony included a surprise visit by Prime Function Aki Zeta-5, who pledged peace and friendship between the Cybernetic Consciousness and the Peacekeepers, ending their short but violent war. Officiating was Lady Skye, who brokered the peace between the two former rivals.

“That’s all for now, but remember that everything you need to know or what to know is right here, on GNS - the Gaian News Service!”

*~*~*~*

Colin pulled up a chair, seating himself at his favorite bistro as his ‘friend’ made himself comfortable.

“Long time,” he said as he pulled out a menu.

“Yes, it has,” Colin said. “Been busy, you know. You could have called. How have you been?”

“Oh, just fine. I was more concerned about you, with all the commotion an all.”

Colin put down his menu. “We’re all just ecstatic. Now we’ll never have any more misunderstandings with the Peacekeepers! I never understood that, anyway.”

His friend frowned slightly. “I heard the Peacekeepers surrendered,” he said.

“Well,” Colin said, “I wouldn’t say that. Rather, I’d say that we have given the Peacekeepers certain guarantees, and that he has given guarantees in return.”

“So the show of equality was a sham,” his friend said as he broke open a roll and smeared it with butter.

“Not at all. We’re not going to occupy any bases, or hold Pravin to anything he doesn’t deem to be proper. We’re not the Cult, you know!”

His friend bristled to himself at that comment.

“For all intents and purposes it is like we are allied, and the Council insisted that Pravin and his people be treated as such,” Colin said. “He’ll have complete autonomy, except we will never be at war again.”

Colin picked up his menu again. “Now, I recommend the braised cutlet in a merlot cream sauce – magnificent!”

*~*~*~*

Cult, MY 2268

Yang looked very uncomfortable on the screen as if he was worried about something.

“Chairman Yang, I am glad that you took the time to talk with me today!” Cha said.

“What can I do for you Prophet Cha Dawn?” Yang replied, looking even more uncomfortable.

“It seems you entered into a “pact” with Pravin Lal, is that correct?”

“Yes, Prophet, I did. My people need more allies to help us grow and prosper. Lal was more than generous and though he made no direct offers of aid his new alliance with the Gaians makes him a perfect conduit to acquire aid.” Yang finished and his tone seemed to take on an almost defiant edge.

“Yes, I understand. It seems that Cult generosity was not sufficient for you. Well, what is done is done Yang. In the future we would like to be consulted first before you enter into any further negotiations. This new alliance is still fragile and the Gaians and Peacekeepers share many things in common, while you on the other hand do not. You should always remember that the Cult is your neighbor and as such we are your greatest supporter.” Cha smiled waiting for Yang to respond.

“I understand Prophet, however, in the future we could be a greater ally for you as we become stronger with the aid from the new Gaian/Peacekeeper alliance. Such strength will of use to you.”

Cha’s smile evaporated quickly at Yang’s response.

“Chairman, allow me to be blunt. We have no wish for Hive military aid. In fact, I would prefer if you focused your energies on more humanitarian efforts like completing the recreation commons at Great Collective. These are more noble efforts for you to work on and they help your people. Your faction long ago forfeited any rights to be a “player” on Planet. Your role is simple and easy to understand. Your people trade with the Cult. That trade is vital to our prosperity and in some ways yours as well. You need only concentrate on building a more stable society and a larger economic base for us to use. Military matters and such are under our control, remember that in the future. If you cannot then I can always have my forces occupy your two remaining cities and make sure you do. We can take them quickly enough before any Peacekeeper aid could be brought to bear. Always remember whom you are dealing with here Yang. You are OUR good servant in all matters and your actions do not speak well of a GOOD servant. In the future such actions will only cause you pain, am I clear?” Cha finished his statement and folded his arms.

“Very clear great Prophet.” Yang’s slight expression of smugness had been wiped away with Cha’s reply.

“Excellent, good day Yang.” Cha reached over and killed the communication line and then turned to his spymaster.

“Order our advisors to keep an even closer reign on Yang. If he should begin to start negotiations with the Gaians then I we will act. If he is able to secure Gaian support directly then he will begin to “feel his oats” so to speak and our control will really begin to wane.” Cha stood up and walked over to the large window looking out into his private gardens.

“My Prophet, what of this new alliance?”

“It changes a great deal, that is for sure. Who would have thought that spineless fool Lal would have capitulated so easily? Perhaps we should have taken a base or two and then he would have surrendered to us? The new alliance means our efforts to isolate the Gaians have failed. They will now focus their military might in protecting Pravin and his people. In some ways this new alliance was a real blow to their Progressives, I would think, in the Gaian political body. In one blow the war with the Peacekeepers was completed, the Cyborgs signed a treaty as well, who else is there to fight with? No one, unless you would count us. This is somewhat disturbing but then we have given them no direct cause for concern and the issue of espionage is still unresolved. The Gaians have no direct proof it was us and so therefore no action can be brought against us at the Planetary Council and since the council will not approve any action neither will the Gaians. They will not act without a Council mandate, of that I am sure.” Cha put his hands on the glass and traced a pattern with his fingers.

“What of our espionage teams on route to the Cyborgs?”

“Their mission is the same for now. However, send orders for them to hold of on any action that would incriminate the Gaians. Until we get a clearer picture of the situation I see no reason to add to the storm, a storm we did not make. We have always been the ones creating the storm and now we are the ones who must ride one out. So let us see how well we can do.” Cha turned from the window and walked slowly from the room into his sleeping area. The master spy stood up and left but before he did he noticed the symbols Cha had marked on the window, the yin/yang, chaos and infinity. Which symbol would be the future of the Cult?

[Hydro]

Gaia’s Landing, MY 2269

Dear Cha Dawn,

I apologize for not responding sooner, but, as you can imagine, the union of the Peacekeepers and the Gaians has taken up all of my time, as has negotiations with the Cyborgs and a surprisingly cooperative Chairman Yang. Pravin Lal and I now have an understanding that ensures our mutual security, and lines of communication so that there will no longer be unfortunate cases of misunderstanding. Our wars are finally resolved, and we are working together for the first time – a wonderful feeling! Prime Function Aki and Lal have also come to an understanding, and I have pledged to both of them to mediate, is asked, to resolve any differences that may erupt. Maybe in time we may all have the same level of trust, but that takes time to build and we are not quite there yet.

I am still interested in face-to-face communications with you, if you still remain interested. Now that the Peacekeeper and Cyborg diplomatic tumult has died down the Council and I can give full consideration to other matters, including the Cult and your concerns. You are invited to come to any mainland Gaian city, and if you’d like a full tour I’m sure that can be arranged. There is one side item you may not be completely pleased, with, however. The Council and Parliament have forbidden me from going to Cult territory. I resisted this, but they were adamant. I would like to suggest a neutral territory, say University territory? The good Prokhor would be pleased with the honor of hosting a diplomatic summit.

A couple of other items you should know about. Immediately after the union of the Peacekeepers and Gaians I essentially ordered the Parliament to stand down significant military preparations, and the go back to a Green model. A few protested, but there was little real opposition since there was no ‘war’ to justify their actions. We will now continue our internal development, which is proceeding nicely now that we aren’t wasting so much resources on them. I was always disturbed that the cost of a trained chaos speeder was the same as a biology lab, and two-thirds the cost of a tree farm or research hospital, and it never produces anything. Some on the Council were less than pleased, but they gave no significant complaint.

One last note. Our base at the Nexus, Children of Earth, grew significantly during our last population boom and now has eight thousand inhabitants. As I mentioned previously, we will begin forming colony pods immediately but you must understand that this will take a while due to the poor resource base. At current rates it will take at least 12 years to reduce the population, and that assumes no growth in the interim. At this point I am considering gifting new bases to Pravin to commemorate our new alliance, and I can’t imagine he’d refuse. It might make sense to gift a few bases to the Cyborgs and University, too. I’ll bring that issue up with the Council.

Let me know what your preferences may be and I will do my best to accommodate them.

Dee

*~*~*~*

Cult, MY 2269

To Lady Skye,

I find it regrettable that you are unable to travel to Dawn of the Planet. With that being said I feel it would be an insult to me if I were to travel to your city and you would not come to mine. However, in the interest of promoting peace and understanding between our two great peoples I will agree to a visit to University Base, providing Zakharov will agree to host the affair. I would suspect that he would. I would still bring the same party of advisors I described earlier. Since we would not want to tax Zakharovs resources lets both agree now to limit our entourage to no more than 20 aides and advisors. I will contact Zakharov myself and see if he would be willing to host the event if he agrees I will have him contact you and inform you of the decision.

I commend your recent efforts to bringing peace to Planet; I wish that as Planetary Governor you would work equally hard at protecting the fragile ecosystem as well. Many of the other factions pollute and despoil Planet with no regard to the long-term effects. I do take heart in that they are not over populating Planet like some factions do. Please inform me of your decision as soon as possible so that my entourage and I can leave at once. It will take me at least three turns to arrive at University Base.

Cha Dawn

First Prophet of the Planet,

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++


Cha stared at the screen intently watching Yang wiggle in his chair uncomfortably. Flanked on each side were several Cult advisors.

“Surely you do not mean it?” Asked Yang.

“I would not have said something if I did not mean it. Your city, Seat of Collective Thought, you will turn it over to us immediately!” Cha barked with an air of annoyance.

“But … but… We what do I get in trade?” Yang was sweating profusely now and his eye was twitching, a tick of sorts. It had started long ago when the giant spore launcher used to bombard his Hive Central base during the war seemed to break his nerve.

“I will transfer you a few technology files as compensation. It is purely a token gesture since with only one base you will hardly have the resources to ever exploit them. Also, if you are able to trade of the files for new technology my aides will demand you transfer the new files to us as well.” Cha kept his steely look, never blinking.

“If I refuse?” Yang almost whispered.

“Well, I really don’t think that is an option here, do you? In light of certain events you might have gained some new long term allies but I doubt none of them are willing as of yet to take the plunge, shall we say, for your defense. Many of them loathe you with a passion but they ally themselves with you hoping you will change which we both know will not happen now don’t we.” Cha continued to glare.

Yang looked to his right and left and then his body seemed to slump.

“I agree, I will order the transfer of my troops and equipment immediately. I hope you will have better luck in controlling those people than I did. Miserable scum!”

“Now that’s the spirit Yang. Also, you will be departing soon for University Base. You may take three advisors with you, my Cult advisors will tell you which ones. Prepare to leave soon Yang, Cha out!”

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++

Cha looked around the room at his top advisors and smiled.

“Well, what do you all think?”

“My Prophet, our recent expansion and the addition of the Hive base has nearly completed our perimeter of bases. We still have several more bases to set-up but we have made a very good start. It will take time to get them properly built up but it can be done. Our northern sea base has several improvements already completed. We are also moving at a steady pace to complete many worthwhile improvements at each base that should free up many more resources for our use. What I am most impressed with is our people’s reaction to the formalization of the new faith as the law of the land. For all intents and purposes it had been that way for some time but the new laws and with you now as the sole spiritual leader of our people we will make a new dawn for all the people of Planet.” Ramos beamed with pride as he finished.

“It will be some time before we can bring the new faith, by force, at least to the other factions.” Fookosh added. Ramos did not look pleased by the sudden negative comment. “Simply put my Prophet, the new faith has given our soldiers and guides a new sense of purpose and determination, this has been building for some time, unlike our military forces. The state of the native levees is still poor and many of them are being used for garrison duty only. I have been working with Ranger one but the paladin garrisons are still under-equipped for the challenge they could face. This new alliance that the Gaians have forged could spell our doom!”

“General Fookosh, I can confirm that the Gaians have stepped down their military preparations, they are making no moves to expand their military. I thi…”

“What you think is irrelevant! The Gaians already have more then enough forces ALREADY to overwhelm us if they wanted to!” Fookosh barked.

“Please be at ease, all of you.” Cha stared at them, all which quickly restored order. “The meeting with Lady Skye will resolve many issues. I have guided the Cult since its conception to victory after victory, nothing will change. The Gaians will not attack us. They lack the determination and willpower to do so. The are by their nature peace loving people and will only strike out if threatened. The plan is still the plan. Alliances change and falter. We will continue to do all we can to isolate the Gaians and force them to seek our aide over all others. Once they realize this then we can help dictate terms and guide their people to a better understanding of Planet. I see no other course. We will preserve as much of Planet as we can in its natural state, we will work to expand our holdings and improve our defenses!” Cha got up and turned and left the conference table.

The others sat for a while not saying anything.

*~*~*~*

Gaia’s Landing, MY 2270

Dear Cha Dawn,

I have spoken with Zakharov, as I have no doubt you have also, and he has agreed to host a meeting between us in MY 2273 at a date of your choosing. I am looking forward to meeting you and discussing any items of mutual importance. Please contact Zakharov to confirm the details and then let me know when the Gaian delegation is to arrive.

Dee

*~*~*~*

“Did you see that Chairman Yang ‘gifted’ one of his two bases to Prophet Cha Dawn?” Ling said. There was an eager tone to her voice.

Colin looked over at her. “That was not very nice of him. Yang has been humiliated enough, and he only has two bases remaining in his empire. He couldn’t possibly be a threat. Is Cha that greedy?”

“I think he just likes picking on those who are weaker than he is, just like a bully,” Ling said as she sat back. “Imagine the position we’d be in if we weren’t much larger than he is? Endless threats, extortion, and maybe a ‘liberation’ of some of our bases to be put under his tender and loving fundamentalist rule. Charming.”

“Or he could be trying to keep up with us,” Dee said. “He now has as many bases as we have.”

“Yes, but our bases aren’t little **** holes,” Ling said. “He refuses to develop his bases, or do what is needed to generate the resources he wants. So, what does he do? He takes from others! I still say it was a mistake to put our military expansion on hold, Dee. A big mistake.”

“You may be right,” Dee said. “But right now you won’t have much support. There is no real threat, and our military might is much larger than the Cult.”

“Sure, but it is dispersed all over creation. Any concentrated attack would work, and we might be hard pressed to respond,” Ling said. “And imagine if one of our allies were seriously attacked? What would we do then? Strip our internal defenses to help them?”

“We’ve had this discussion,” Terry said, “and your objections have been noted. We need to move on. Mohammed?”

“Our infrastructure is doing very well,” he said. “We have 10 hybrid forests constructed, most of which were completed in the last five years. Our secondary infrastructure, like research hospitals and biology labs, will be coming on line at all our primary bases within the next 10 years, and our second tier bases within 20.

“Internal terraforming has added a bit of land here and there, nothing significant. We are thinking of creating a land bridge to the small island north of us so it can serve as a future energy park, but that will take a while. On the mainland farms are being converted into forests, except where there energy output of the solar collectors exceeds what a hybrid forest might produce. Our sea terraforming efforts are still lagging, and I’d like to see two or three more sea formers put into operation.

“Our laboratory output hit an all-time high this last year at over 1200 terraquads of data. This is five times as large as the next largest faction, the Cult. Of course, we are allocating 80 percent of our energy reserves to it, but that is what is needed, and the energy is not needed for anything else at the time being.

“Next year we should complete Pre-Sentient Algorithms, and with it we will have access to the secret project Hunter Seeker Algorithm – a key to prevent espionage, you will agree. Aki is already working on this project, but he is having stability problems at Alpha Prime due to several sea vessels that are causing massive unrest in her Free Market economy. At the present rate she will finish the Project in 13 years, but we should be able to finish the HSA the year the technology becomes available by using the resources accumulated for the last 10 years, cashing in crawlers allocated to this specific duty, and our energy reserves. I recommend that our next technology be Fusion, which will allow us significant military, economic, and research advantages.

“The population boom has cured our energy problem, too, even with the increase in laboratory allocation from 70 to 80 percent after the switch to a Green economy. We now have a 120 megajoule surplus, and our trade energy has spiked massively due to our Pact with the Peacekeepers. Trade from Gaia’s Landing alone is over 50 megajoules – quite a feat.

“Our peace with the Peacekeepers has solved many of our problems, and has allowed us to spike our internal development. I hope we can keep doing so,” Mohammed said as he sat down.

“Thank you,” Terry said. “Colin, how are our bases doing?”

“Excellent!” he said. “I have reports that seven bases are in a golden age, and this has the significant feature of increasing its economic output and growth. When we combine this economic output with that of our Wealth emphasis we are able to harvest huge amounts of energy from every sector we are working. I recommend we do what we can to ensure as many bases as possible achieve a golden age. We will need more hybrid forests and research hospitals, right Mohammed?”

Mohammed nodded.

“Well, then, that is it. There is no discontent at all,” Colin said. “Good news all around.”

“For a change,” Ling said.

Terry rebuked Ling with a glance. She had been in a sour mood since her military appropriates had been slashed.

“That ends this Council meeting,” he said.

“Now for dinner!” Colin said

[Hydro]

Cult, MY 2270

Lady Skye,

On behalf of the most beloved of Planets children our great and most noble Prophet, Cha Dawn, he accepts your arrangements and has already departed for University base. He will arrive in 2273 as agreed to by both of you.

May the blessings of the Prophet enlighten your day and bring the peace of mind that transcends all time and space.

Ranger One Victor Ramos

First Ranger of the order of the Rangers; Guardians of the true spirit of Planet

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++

Cha stood near the edge of the isle of the deep as it plunged through rough seas towards University Base. Cha watched the waves swell and flow and was reminded of the movement of the fungus as the winds of Planet gently pulled and pushed it.

“Excuse me my Prophet, but I have word of our teams.”

Cha turned and standing a few feet from him was his spymaster and his daughter Eve.

“Yes?”

“My Prophet, the teams have landed at the southern end of the peninsula near the capital city of the Cyborgs. It seems the city is still in revolt over something, as of yet we do not know. It should make things easier for the teams to enter the city and implant the hydra virus. I need to make contact with the team leader within the hour so that they can prepare any evidence they need to take with them to implicate another party for any thefts.” The spymaster turned slightly towards Eve who continued to say nothing.

“Order the teams to implicate the University.” Cha then waved his spymaster away and motioned for Eve to join him the spymaster waited just a second or so while Eve walked towards Cha and then turned and left.

“My daughter, it has been a long time, has it not?”

“My father it is most joyous to be with you again. I had thought you would never call for me. I believed that you were angry with me or displeased with how I ruled in your absence.” Eve almost whispered her response to her father, her head slightly bowed.

“No my daughter, I was not angry or displeased. You did what you could, I was angry with myself for not preparing things more for your rule. Ramos accelerated the timetable to bring about fundamental changes in our society. The plan was to wait many more turns before things were ready but his zealous work and determination has brought about the changes much more sooner than I had wanted.”

“Father, why not just eliminate him?” Eve replied.

“Eve, our society for better or worse can no longer tolerate the simple removal of someone like Ramos. He has a power base, a considerably powerful power base and to remove him would send shockwaves through our society. No, the master spy and I have made special plans to take care of Ramos if needed. His death must look “natural” anything else would create too many other problems. Also, if the espionage teams would fail I can always serve up Ramos as the sacrificial lamb before the Gaians or the Cyborgs. I hope it wont come to that but if it does we are prepared.” Cha reached down and took his daughters hand in his.

“Father, what do you expect to gain from these meetings with the Gaians and University?” Eve asked.

“Simple: time. Time is always our worst enemy. We need time to grow and to wait for things to come apart and to come together. I know that seems cryptic to you but we must take the long view. As far other issues, well, the Gaians are a lost cause. They are committed to their so-called ecological/industrial expansion. Our only hope is that we can carve out enough territory and hold it to maintain Planet in its pristine condition. The Gaians would have us all plow over every fungal patch and dig a mine or plant a tree farm.” Cha finished his reply with a slight sigh.

“Is there nothing we can do to stop them?” Eve asked hesitantly.

“No, we could never mount a strong enough strike force to take their cities and hold them. They have packed themselves in so tight that any counter strike would be supported by many cities and their forces and would bring maximum pressure. Perhaps we can look at other areas, such as the Spartans as our next target, I am not sure. For now we need more worms and more cities. That will be our main strength. Our perimeter cities are almost done so we can stage attacks and support them. The Gaians have no advance cities to speak of so they will not have the resources to support any counter-offense if we strike at a place where they are weak and we are strong.” Cha still held his daughters hand tight.

“Father, could there ever be peace between us, I tried myself several times to bring about an understanding between us but failed.”

“We can not compromise our beliefs about Planet to do so would make all of our efforts on Planet since landing a complete waste of time. The Gaians will eventually learn that we are right. Planet will yield up her knowledge to us and her bounty. When that day comes the Gaians will come to us!” Cha yelled his reply out to the sea in some sort of defiant gesture.

From the center of the isle the spymaster watched the two and wondered what Cha had in mind. When they had left one of the reasons he wanted Eve along was in case the meeting went badly and a sacrifice was needed, Eve was along for that purpose and to create chaos. The spymaster smiled, if anyone could create chaos it would be her.

*~*~*~*

Flower’s Preach, MY 2271

“And with the cutting of this ribbon,” Colin said with a flourish, “I formally open the Hunter Seeker Algorithm Center!”

Colin brandished his oversized scissors and cut the wide, green ribbon, the ends of which fluttered to the ground. Polite clapping filled the hall and Colin took a bow, which generated a few good natured chuckles.

He handed the scissors to a nearby aid. “Of course, the real center isn’t here,” he said. “It’s somewhere in the area, and we’re not allowed to divulge where. Suffice to say that we mean to keep any inappropriate people from finding out, and that means you!”

More polite laughter.

“Seriously, this will help prevent unfortunate incidents from occurring, and I’m sure we all want that. We’re all very proud of this achievement, and I want to personally thank the conceptual and construction teams for their years of labor.” Colin turned around and waved a bank of men and women who had been dutifully in their chairs for the entire ceremony. Now, one by one, they rose and the applause went up a pitch. Most smiled sheepishly, except the engineers, who never cracked even a grin.

Colin raised his hands to clap for them and encourage the crowd.

After a few minutes the applause died down and Colin turned to address the crowd, and the holo-reporters that thronged the auditorium. “Please direct any other questions to the Ministry of Public Information, who will be happy to help you as much as they can.”

The crowd started dispersing, and Colin saw some people he knew and went over to chat, as he was wont to do.

*~*~*~*

“What do you mean we aren’t prepared to start researching Fusion power!” Ling thundered.

“I mean just that,” Dr. Lynn Thoranson said, holding his ground. “I know its important to you, but although we have the requisite background it would be inefficient. We’ve already started along several lines of research. See,” he said as he handed her his datapad.

Ling looked it over and grumbled to herself. “Fine. Start researching Bio-Engineering, it’s the least worst of the lot. I’ll let the Council know you needed a decision, and that I made it for them.”

Lynn’s eyebrows raised at that.

Ling handed him the datapad. “Thank you,” she said as she turned to leave.

After a few moments Ling smiled, remembering the consternation and confusion in the straight-forward doctor’s face. All it took was a little play-acting, and after all she got what she wanted – clean reactors! Finally! Support-free military units!

And she would have it in four short years!

*~*~*~*

Cult, MY 2271

Cha was seated in one of “pockets” of the isle of the deep listening to the report from his spymaster.

“Good news and bad news my Prophet. We did achieve the goals we had hoped for the mission: the data system was infiltrated and we did get advanced military technology as well. However, the team was unable to plant the evidence because the Cyborgs discovered the team’s work and they did not have time. Both teams did make it back to our base with no losses but as I said they were discovered.” The spymaster waited for Cha to respond. Cha sat quietly for sometime pondering the news.

“Any news from the University? Did they announce any support for the Cyborgs yet?”

“No my Prophet, no news.”

“Well, then I see no reason to alter the plans. We can weather the storm of acquisitions that will surely erupt when we land. No, if worse comes to worse we have contingency plans. The technology and the information were too valuable to pass up. If we are to keep pace on technology then if the other factions will not trade then we will take it from them.” Cha eased himself back into the soft folds of the isle and rested a bit.

“My Prophet, what if the Gaians involve themselves?”

“I doubt it. They have no “pact” with the Cyborgs and if this does spark a war I would bet they would stay out of it since it does not involve them. As long as we do not trouble them they will not trouble us, this has been the way it’s been since landing and I see no reason why Skye would change her plans now.” Cha folded his arms over his chest and bowed his head in deep thought. The spymaster took the queue and stood up and left the compartment/fold to go up to the surface. Within seconds of reaching the top Eve approached him.

“Did they get away with it?” Eve asked.

“No, they did infiltrate the network and obtain data, most useful data, but they were found out but did make it back to our base.” The spymaster looked at Eve with a blank expression.

“I suppose you have made plans?”

“Yes.”

“If I were my father I would blame me if things went bad for us at this meeting. I cannot blame him since it was my plan to begin with and the momentum of the operation was already underway. I do hope that it does not come to that but I do understand.” Eve finished and turned and walked back to her “fold”.

The spymaster watched her and wondered if Cha would really put the most gorgeous head he had seen on the chopping block.

[Hydro]

Cult, MY 2271

Cha was seated in one of “pockets” of the isle of the deep listening to the report from his spymaster.

“Good news and bad news my Prophet. We did achieve the goals we had hoped for the mission: the data system was infiltrated and we did get advanced military technology as well. However, the team was unable to plant the evidence because the Cyborgs discovered the team’s work and they did not have time. Both teams did make it back to our base with no losses but as I said they were discovered.” The spymaster waited for Cha to respond. Cha sat quietly for sometime pondering the news.

“Any news from the University? Did they announce any support for the Cyborgs yet?”

“No my Prophet, no news.”

“Well, then I see no reason to alter the plans. We can weather the storm of acquisitions that will surely erupt when we land. No, if worse comes to worse we have contingency plans. The technology and the information were too valuable to pass up. If we are to keep pace on technology then if the other factions will not trade then we will take it from them.” Cha eased himself back into the soft folds of the isle and rested a bit.

“My Prophet, what if the Gaians involve themselves?”

“I doubt it. They have no “pact” with the Cyborgs and if this does spark a war I would bet they would stay out of it since it does not involve them. As long as we do not trouble them they will not trouble us, this has been the way it’s been since landing and I see no reason why Skye would change her plans now.” Cha folded his arms over his chest and bowed his head in deep thought. The spymaster took the queue and stood up and left the compartment/fold to go up to the surface. Within seconds of reaching the top Eve approached him.

“Did they get away with it?” Eve asked.

“No, they did infiltrate the network and obtain data, most useful data, but they were found out but did make it back to our base.” The spymaster looked at Eve with a blank expression.

“I suppose you have made plans?”

“Yes.”

“If I were my father I would blame me if things went bad for us at this meeting. I cannot blame him since it was my plan to begin with and the momentum of the operation was already underway. I do hope that it does not come to that but I do understand.” Eve finished and turned and walked back to her “fold”.

The spymaster watched her and wondered if Cha would really put the most gorgeous head he had seen on the chopping block.

*~*~*~*

Song of Planet, MY 2272

Ling looked over the flimsy, and her lips curled into a sneer.


Something had stirred up the Cyborgs, and their operatives were flying all over the place. Communications were tightly encrypted, of course. But, not so encrypted that the Hunter Seeker Algorithm couldn’t break at least part of the code. What wasn’t clear could be surmised, and to Ling it looked like the Cyborgs were blaming the Cult for data theft.

Of course, there was no proof, and she couldn’t breath a word since arranging to breach diplomatic communications was technically illegal. Ling had friends, carefully nurtured over the years, and they occasionally found interesting little tidbits like this.

“Didn’t get away with it this time, did you,” she said to herself.

This was one more piece of an expanding puzzle, one that had been unfolding for about 150 years. Ling had watched these pieces with vigilance, knowing that one day all her fears and suspicious would be proven once and for all.

Ling knew she would revel in that moment, the moment when the veil of ignorance would be lifted from all the idealists and pragmatists that seemed to infest the Gaian government. Their hearts were in the right place, but they were oh, so wrong. At times she wished this mantle could be taken from her, it was a heavy burden, but then she knew the Council would slip into a catatonia that it might never wake from. It would be all too easy to succumb to the whispers – trust, faith. Ling knew she would have none of that. The whispers were false.

She refused to listen to her whispers.

After reading the flimsy one more time she scraped one side and it disintegrated to a fine powder. No evidence, no foul – right?

*~*~*~*

Cult, MY 2272

The main conference room were the meetings were to be held was a huge room high up in the central tower of University Base. The room was lined with windows on three sides offering a dramatic view of his city. The room held three large wooden tables set-up in triangle formation each table could easily sit nearly 20 people. Around the room stood various aides and advisors to each faction that would be attending today’s opening session. Zakharov had taken great pains to prepare everything with the utmost care and detail to impress each of the factions. His own team of advisors were already on hand waiting to greet each faction leader as they arrived. The first faction to arrive was the Gaians. The doors opened at the end of the great hall and Lady Skye walked out flanked by a small group of 12 advisors. Sky was dressed in a nice looking green jacket with matching pants. Many of the other advisors seemed to wear the same “tone” of green that lady Skye wore. She walked forward towards Zakharov her team flanking to her right as they moved to sit down.

“I thank you again for hosting these talks academician Zakharov.” Skye reached out and shook his hand.

“It is an honor to host such an event. I hope they will be productive and that it will expand peace and prosperity throughout our lands.” Skye nodded her head slightly and smiled.

Suddenly trumpets drowned out all conversation in the room as four men entered playing them at their loudest possible level. The music could be described as some sort of entrance march but it was more loud than good.

A man dressed in a orange/golden robe entered he stopped just after entering the room and took his large staff and banged it on the floor three times at the third hit the music ended.

“All that our present REJOICE! For the light of the Planet has arrived! The first disciple of Planet, protector of the one true spirit of Planet! May his coming bring peace and the true understanding of enlightenment to all that hear his good words. The great Prophet CHA DAWN!” The man seemed to roar the last part and in walked Cha Dawn.

Cha was wearing his customary robes of orange fungal cloth. He was much older than before with wisps of white hair streaking his long ponytail. He seemed to lean on a great staff as he walked forward. Behind him followed his entourage. Suddenly the man began to start yelling again.

“All honor to the great mistress of the People of the Planet, EVE! Daughter to the one true Prophet!” Eve walked in wearing a sheer gown of fungal silk that was nearly transparent and it left little to the imagination. She seemed to glide across the room flashing a smile to everyone and stopped a few feet behind Cha and knelt on one knee.

“All honor to our great general Fookosh! Commander of the armies of the People of the Planet and guild master to the Guild of Guides!” Fookosh walked in wearing an orange military suit with several medals and a sash he too walked within a few feet behind Cha and knelt.

“All honor to our first minister of intelligence Mr. Markese!” A hooded black robed man glided across the room and slowly knelt a few feet behind Cha.

“Chairman Yang of the Hive, loyal friend and trusted ally to Cha Dawn the great light of the planet!” Yang slowly shuffled forward. He looked older than anyone had seem him and he wore a simple gray tunic and pants he took walked towards Cha and then very slowly bent down. Followed seconds after Yang were a large group of Cult and a few Hive advisors.

Cha reached his hand out and said in a loud voice.

“I bless these proceedings! May the spirit of Planet guide us all in our deliberations so that we may all reach a true understanding of peace and love for all people on Planet and Planet!” Cha lowered his hand and then slowly walked forward to meet a very stunned Zakharov and Skye.

“I greet you my Planet brother and sister!” They both reached out their hands but Cha shot his arm out above theirs and quickly touched their heads, “May the Peace of Planet fill your minds and hearts.” And then he lowered his hand back to his side and smiled.

“Well, ahh.. Thank you for coming Cha Dawn. Can you take your seat?” Zakharov asked. Cha smiled again, a smile that seemed to reek smugness. As Cha moved away Zakharov turned to Skye and said very quietly.

“If we have to go through that each day we will have to start earlier and bring ear plugs.” Skye winked at him and they both moved to their seats knowing today was going to be along day indeed.

[Hydro]

University Base, MY 2273

Zakharov was distracted. Eve had taken off one another of her gossamer layers, and Zak couldn’t help but stare while Eve pretended not to notice.

Their non-verbal interchange didn’t escape Deirdre’s attention. She turned to Zakharov. “Perhaps we should turn down the temperature? It seems some of our delegates are too hot, and it wouldn’t do for our esteemed representatives to be distracted by being too hot or cold, now would it?”

Zak got the point. “Of course. I’ll have it lowered 2 degrees Celsius. Will that do?”

Dee glanced at Eve, who had a neutral expression, but Dee would swear she was enjoying informally controlling the actions of others. “Yes, that will do nicely. If our delegates display any more signs of discomfort feel free to lower the temperature even more.”

That cracked a smile from the wizened Zakharov, who nodded. If Eve kept up her veritable strip tease she would soon be freezing.

“Sorry for the interruption,” she said as she turned back to Cha Dawn. “As I was saying, the Gaians have no intention of stationing significant military forces outside of our territory, and we have no extra-territorial ambitions. And our military, while large, is only proportional to our holdings. We have one or two military units for each city, plus a few reaction forces. That is hardly, as you call it, an ‘overwhelming military presence’.

“And, yes, we do have a large population, but we have no industrial pollution, as you have frequently alleged. Our impact on the environment is minimal.”

Cha Dawn was not impressed. “The other faction leaders and I only have your word for this. For all we know your cities are brimming with military forces.”

“Your isles have seen all of our perimeter cities,” Dee said. “What did you see?”

Cha waved that aside. “That means nothing. You saw our isles coming and could have moved the forces out of viewing range, or they could be stationed in your interior bases that you have seen fit to allow no one to see. You have full access to all of our bases through your Empath Guild and your powers as Planetary Governor, while we must simply take your word for all your assertions. You would likely be much more apprehensive if you had to take my word for everything, since you could not verify it independently.”

Zakharov was following this, and giving most of his attention to Cha Dawn. Occasionally his eyes flicked to Dee to gage her reaction.

“It is a matter of intelligence, which you have and none of the rest of us have. You have seen fit to garrison all of your bases with espionage teams, the largest on Planet, I believe. And now you’ve completed the Hunter Seeker Algorithm, which makes it almost impossible to gain access to your datalinks. I call that cementing in an untenable advantage, which hardly is a gesture of trust on your part.”

Dee thought about it for a minute. “I can see your point. However, you should know that we let Pravin have full access to our datalinks as part of our Pact, so you are not quite correct in your statements. Moreover, there have been unfortunate incidents of data theft, and it seemed prudent to guard our cities and databanks from harm. You would have done the same in our position.”

“That does not change the current situation,” Cha shot back. “I ask that the Cult, and any other faction, be allowed access to your datalinks for information gathering purposes only.” He paused dramatically. “In the interest of Planet-wide peace and harmony, of course. Unless you think it is inappropriate for a faction to see what another is doing, as you have done for almost a hundred years? In which case I assume you’ll disassemble the Empath Guild, and forgo your inspection prerogatives as Governor.”

Zak was enjoying this interchange, and nodded slightly when Cha roasted Dee.

Dee was quiet for a minute or two. “I’ll see if there is a way to do it. The HSA will be a problem, and a large number of the Gaian Council and Parliament will likely object.”

“We will be here for a while,” Cha said, “and I’m sure you will find a way to have them reach a decision during the ample time in the next week.”

Deirdre didn’t like this one bit, and Ling looked like she was going to explode. Several times she looked like she wanted to interject, but held her tongue at the last minute.

“Information Gathering seems to have a tentative resolution,” Zakharov said, using his status as moderator to bring the topic to a close. “Now, Cha Dawn, do you have another issue to discuss?”

Yes, there is one more issue I would like to open for discussion. The Cult of the Planet has the following proposal to offer. We people of the Planet have dedicated our lives, energy and efforts to preserve the original face of Planet. All of you have seem our data that we have gathered from our work on the xeno-empathy dome and other areas. It is clear from this data that Chiron or Planet, as we call it, has unique qualities. The fungus fields generate a great, great amount of neural activity. I will be the first one to admit that our data is non-conclusive as to what it all means. However, for some of us and for my people that questions was answered a long time ago, Planet is alive!” Cha’s voice rose steadily during his statement till it reached its climax which then caused all of the Cult members to begin chanting a prayer to Planet. Dee quickly looked to her left and right and noticed that Ling was about to come unglued for the probably the hundredth time during the meeting but what caught her eye was a spark in Colin’s eyes, something what Cha had said seem to have struck a cord. She then glanced back over the table towards Zakharov how seemed to be dumbfounded. He had always discouraged the spread of the Cult faith in his cities but had never been able to stamp it out. All of them had to pass the thousands of people who had gathered at the building this morning to get even a glimpse of Cha Dawn in person. What was somewhat frightening to Dee was that so many of them were Gaians, a few University people, but the bulk of them were Gaians who had traveled to see him.

“We understand your position on Planet Cha Dawn, but you did not state YET what your proposal was?” Dee had waited till they had stopped chanting.

“I propose the following: That we all make a commitment to restore as much fungus as possible. We people of the Planet will do this for you. We will send special terra-formers to each of your factions and in conjunction with your land management people restore as much fungus as possible! So that our presence is not seen as a military threat we will forthwith eliminate ALL of our military units and we will only garrison our cities with native levees! We will be the seeds of peace and restoration of a new planet for all to see!” Cha finished and it seemed from the looks on the faces of even some of Cha’s advisors he had not even told them of what he had just said. Suffice it to say it also brought everyone else to a stop as well. Ling was about to come unglued and even some of Zakharov’s people were agitated.

“I suggest that we adjourn for now so that we can digest both Cha’s proposal and our lunch.” Zakharov quickly gaveled the session closed and was almost tackled by his advisors.

*~*~*~*~*

Markese had walked with the others to the dinning hall that was serving a light lunch of sorts. The University had laid out a very generous spread of food for all to enjoy. Markese however had other fish to fry.

“Good day Minister Simmons!” Markese had found his counterpart in the University governmental system

“Ahh, Markese I assumed you would stop by. How are things with you? I noticed you were not phased one bit by Cha’s announcement were you. Interesting proposal.” Simmons picked around on his plate for another crab -ike meat that was heaped on some crackers and stuffed one into his mouth. Markese had never had much respect for Simmons the University intelligence system was a hodgepodge of departments that all seemed to be working against each other. Perhaps that had explained how easily it had been to penetrate their networks.

“Well, I was just wondering how things were going with you and Peacekeepers? With the Peacekeepers making allies with the Gaians and gaining access to all of that technology they surely would have shared that with you by now? Why our ally Yang got access to all of our data.” Markese smiled, just a bit.

“Damn if you say! All of it! Well, we have not been able to get a thing out the Peacekeepers and they have been quiet about the whole thing. Every time we ask they balk, something about their agreement with the Gaians and getting permission.” Simmons found another cracker and quickly mashed it up in his mouth.

“Well, I had heard that as well. Well good luck with that I am sure its like sitting on a goldmine without a shovel to dig it up, that’s all. Good day minister.” Markese gathered his robes and turned and left knowing, without having to even look, that Simmons was racing back to find his master to tell him.

Markese was very pleased with himself when Ling appeared in front of him.

“What did you say to make that jack rabbit jump like that spy master Markese?” Ling said firmly but with a touch of steel in your voice.

“Minister of Intelligence, not spymaster. Council person Ling, I was hoping to meet you but I thought you would have sought out General Fookosh, not me.” Markese had pushed his hood back slightly revealing his graying hair and creased face.

“No, I know who sits where and how closely to the great “Prophet”.” Ling said somewhat contemptuously.

“Well, we all have our roles to play, do we not council person Ling?” Markese replied.

“Yes, and your role seems to be espionage, death and chaos!” A few passer byes overhead the last part and turned their heads. “I know more than you can imagine.”

“Yes, I am sure you do. Your Empath Guild almost eliminates the need for a strong intelligence corps does it not? Of course, you do have your anti-espionage teams but that is hardly a “real” spy network as I am told others have,” Markese remarked.

“You would be surprised. I know that if we wanted to we could take your entire faction within a decade and never miss a heartbeat or the production of one consumer item!” She barked at him.

“Yes, I know you could but that has never been the question. The question is do you have the fortitude to do it? The answer to that question is no. You have used and twisted events to serve your purpose just as we have but we will never give you the trigger you need to unleash the horde you have and that is what burns you each and every night, does it not Ling?” Markese finished and pulled his hood down again and swirled about. Ling was about to go after him when Dee showed up and pulled at her elbow.

“Ling, I need to talk with you NOW!”

*~*~*~*

Deirdre pulled Ling into an alcove. “Read this,” she said, handing her a flimsy. Ling scanned the document.

“Are you sure?” she asked. Dee nodded. “You have to talk to Zak. This could derail everything.”

Dee took that as the affirmation she needed, and walked over the Zakharov, who was talking privately with an aide. “Do you have a moment?”

“Lady Skye, for you I always have a minute,” he said with a smile.

“Privately?” she said. Zak looked over at his aide and nodded for her to leave, which she did. Then he looked over at Dee, eyebrows raised.

“I’ve been informed that the University has just declared vendetta against the Peacekeepers,” she said.

“Really?” Zak said. He had a surprised look on his face, but Dee couldn’t read him. Was he telling the truth.

“Has something occurred that I need to know about?” she asked.

“Why, no. Nothing that I’m aware of. I’ll get to the bottom of this immediately,” he said. “Excuse me.”

Dee watched him leave. As he near the door to the conference room three aides, one of whom had military bearing, intercepted him. Although she couldn’t hear it was clear they were having a pointed conversation, and Zakharov was doing most of the talking.
Finally, he yelled something like, “Just do it!” His aides turned and left, the military adjunct last.

He walked back over to Dee. “I’m afraid there was a ‘misunderstanding.’ One of our Generals called an exercise, which wasn’t fully authorized or scheduled. Two others on the command staff saw the data coming in and assumed we were under attack. I’ve told the various parties to resolve the situation. Immediately.”

“Thank you,” Dee said. To her it sounded a little too pat, but that didn’t matter. “Please call Pravin and explain before this gets out of hand. Do I need to get involved?”

“No, no. It’s all taken care of,” he said. “Now, let’s get back to the conference!” Zak took her arm and gently escorted her back to the conference. Dee notice that his hand was trembling a little.

*~*~*~*


Ling shut the doors on the private room he had provided for the Gaians during the recesses.

“That little slut,” Ling said. “I’m not a prude, but that Eve is either a nymphomaniac or a sociopath. Imagine, showing up at a televised conference in little more than diaphanous gauze!”

“She managed to distract you,” Colin said. “Maybe that was her intention? Keep in mind Zak could be listening, too.”

Ling thought about it. “Let him hear. She’s still a slut.”

“Odd costumes aside, any other comment?” Dee asked.

“Their terraforming proposal is not acceptable,” Mohammed said. “We’re busy removing fungus right now. What use is it to put it back? It make no sense, especially since a base with a hybrid forest can use a forest and have it produce over three times the resources as fungus. And we’re lucky, since we understand the fungus better than everyone else, as far as gather nutrients goes. Imagine what Zak or Santiago would do when they’re under Free Market and can’t gather any resources from fungus, and then worry about worms?”

“It is an interesting idea,” Terry said. “And they could be right. It will never pass Parliament, though, not now at least. If we did that our citizens would starve, and our bases would collapse. It is out of the question.”

“Maybe one day when we understand the fungus better it would make more sense,” Colin said. “I kind of like the idea myself, but I have to agree that it doesn’t make sense right now.”

“Maybe we could volunteer to plant fungus in an unoccupied area?” Dee said. “That might placate Cha Dawn since it would replace lost fungus, and it wouldn’t harm our cities.”

“It is a waste of time,” Mohammed said.

“You were just telling me that our terraformers on the mainland are running our of things to do,” Colin said.

“Not really. I’ve instructed them to remove almost all farms and replace them with forest. Soon there will be nothing but forests on our mainland, except for a few areas where it makes sense to keep the farms.”

“But we could spare a few,” Dee asked.

“If necessary,” he said. His voice was stiff.

“Very good,” Dee said. “What about his other de-militarization proposal?”

“A load of sh*t,” Ling said. “As if we don’t know that his worms ARE his army! What did he conquer the Hive with? Infantry? Nope – worms! If he wants to waste his time, let him, though. Gestating and training worms is expensive, so I wish him luck.”

“That’s kind of what I thought, too,” Dee said, “although I wouldn’t have phrased it quite so colorfully. Do we have any reason to object?” Dee looked around for someone to pipe up, but no one did.

“Great. Now, let’s all get some sleep.”

*~*~*~

This was the last day of the conference and little had yet to be accomplished from Cha’s point of view. The Gaians had flatly refused to dismantle the sophisticated computer network that now guarded their network. The proposal to restore the fungus had been politely refused as well. They had gone back and forth for talking and talking and the Gaians would not give anywhere on any issue. So Cha offered one last proposal at the morning meeting.

“Lady Skye sometime ago my loving daughter tendered to you the proposal that we would share clean reactor technology with you once we complete it on the condition that any special technology or projects that do bloom from that effort are our sole property and as such you would not try to utilize that technology for your own efforts.” As Cha finished an earlier communiqué was flashed on the main screen for all to see.

“Prophet Cha Dawn I will have to get back with you latter this afternoon but I will promise to give you a response.” Skye finished and as if on queue almost all of the Gaian council members personnel data devices started to chirp in unison. The beeping must have been a special code that they understood but without fail all of them quickly looked down and their faces were turned ashen. Lady Skye quickly stood up.

“I request a recess for now. An event has occurred within our territory that must be dealt with immediately. I would suggest that we reconvene after lunch so that we I can inform Cha Dawn of our response and then we can conclude our meeting with the closing ceremony.” Skye pushed her chair back and made to leave and the entire Gaian contingent quickly followed her out of the room.

Cha turned to Markese and bent his head so he could get closer.

“What do you make of this?”

“ I do not know. My agents are constantly scanning the Gaian free network so I will contact them now to se…” As the spymaster reached for his data device it now began to chirp in alarm which startled both of them for just a second. Markese hit the activation button and a young Cult seeker popped up on the screen.

“Master, it has happened again! A terrible viral outbreak has struck the Gaians again. Sector upon sector of forests have been wiped in a single day, hours in fact. The damage is even worse than before! I am linking in the video feed that we are getting.” The man motioned with his arms off screen and then suddenly he disappeared and was replaced with a scene that took their breaths away. Kilometer upon kilometer of land lay barren not one green piece of leaf or twig remained. The virus had swept so quickly that the trees were left as hulks. Markese quickly turned off the feed and looked at Cha.

“Planet has spoken again! Twice they have paid the price for their stupidity and arrogance and now they pay the price. Even with all of their powerful technology they are swept aside like a twig in the rapids.” Cha stood up and said.

“Professor Zakharov, I think I knew what the Gaians are so upset about. If you will turn to their free network channel number 33 you will see what has happened.” Zakharov turned to an aide who quickly made the change on the main screen in the room and all of the people seemed to be frozen as they watched the devastation occur for many minutes they watched and some Cult advisor had begun to chant a victory song that was taken up by the remaining staff.

“Cha Dawn I hardly see how this behavior is appropriate at this time?” Zakharov barked.

“Excuse my people my generous host. For us this is just anther sign of the things to come to those who do not listen to what Planet has to say for those who do not pay the price of their arrogance!” Cha turned to his group and motioned for them to leave. Zakharov watched as they filed out trying, but not succeeding from keeping his eyes off of Mistress Eve. He had several private meetings with her over the past turns and though he did not trust her and few women aroused him anymore this Eve did. As they left Zakharov turned to his team.

“Get me all the data on this fast!”

[Hydro]

*~*~*~*~*

“Greenhouse Gate,” Terry said as he looked at the holos. As far as the eye could see the forests were whithering, dying as they watched.

“How are the people at Gate?” Dee asked the base Governor Anne Westfall of Greenhouse Gate, who was on the line.

“Fine, for how,” she said. “We’ve already moved the people out of the forests as a precaution. Kelp farms are unaffected, thank god, or we’d have a serious starvation issue. For now we’re holding our own.”

Dee nodded. “Anything we can do?”

“Yes,” she said. “Send all the formers you can to replant the forests. I won’t feel better until they are back.”

Mohammed piped up. “I’m re-routing all formers on the southern half of the mainland, and I’ll talk to Governor Mnebke at Last Rose of Summer to build a former. There should be three in your area within a few years.”

“Good,” she said. “You know, it’s ironic. I understand that these kinds of blights are prevented by biology labs. We were scheduled to finish ours in a year or two before the blight struck.”

“Do what you can Governor,” Dee said. “And thank you for all you’ve done. I’d like to come and visit, and make sure everything is OK. Can that be arranged?”

“Of course!” Anne said. “Any time.” Dee nodded, and then cut the connection.

“You know what the Cultists will say, don’t you,” Ling said.

“Yes,” Dee responded. “Better go in and let them say it. By the way, how many biology labs do we have operation?”

“A total of four,” Mohammed said. “That will protect about 15 percent of our bases.”

Dee pursed her lips. “It’s not enough. Tell them that new discretionary buildings are to concentrate on biology labs. I don’t want this to happen again.”

Mohammed nodded.

*~*~*~*

“First,” Deirdre said to the Conference attendees, “let me say that I appreciate your expressions of concern and sympathy over the Planetblight outbreak at Greenhouse Gate. Fortunately, we have the problem under control, and there is no starvation or social disruption. I have to give credit to the people of Gate who, under severe pressure, are not panicking and are already planning on replanting the forests.”

“That,” Cha interrupted, “is your problem. Planet knows and reacts to what is alien, and that its fragile neural net has been degraded. This is only the first of many reactions. It fights like white blood cells in our own bodies, destroying the invader and what is foreign, as your forests. Its mindworms will destroy our buildings, and if we are in the way our people. And, no matter how tragic these occurrences might be, it is only natural.

“Turn from your path of opposition to Planet,” Cha said to Dee and to his general audience. “We all can make the right choice, and that choice is to love and preserve Planet. Do not remove fungus, plant it. Do not overpopulate Planet, learn to live in harmony with it. Do not extract Planet’s bounty in excess of its ability to willingly produce, use moderation. It is up to us to learn to live on Planet, and to hear its messages.”

Dee listened patiently, and made eye contact when Cha seemed to be done.

“Those are valuable suggestions,” she said. “We will take time to consider them.”

Meaning she isn’t going to implement them. Blind, arrogant fool, Cha thought to himself. “Thank you, Lady Skye,” he said.

“I also appreciate your other proposals,” Dee continued. “However, we are likely to finish our research into Bio Machinery in the coming year, so I’m afraid we will have to decline. However, in deference to our tacit agreement we are willing to give this technology to you and any other faction that agrees not to pursue the Project associated with the technology. Is that acceptable? Also, one of our delegates has suggested planting fungus where it never was in unclaimed lands. I believe this would help restore the fungal balance you are concerned about, mitigating some of the damage you claim has occurred to the fungal neural net you have mentioned. Does this idea have merit in your eyes?”

Dee waited for Cha’s response.

*~*~*~*



“Agreed. We will accept your offer in the spirit it is given. We have many times given freely to you our technology with the same exception. We only wish to make one small amendment to your offer. Our scientists hope to continue with this line of research into enhanced bio-engineering sciences in the hopes of unlocking more secrets of Planet. One of the lines of research we wish to make is into advancing our studies of the fungus. If we should at a latter date uncover such technology we would be willing to share it with you in hopes that it would aid your people in realizing the true and wonderful purpose the fungus has.” Cha smiled warmly as he finished.

Dee waited a minute to respond.

“Cha Dawn I will have to consult with my advisors briefly during the next recess but you shall have my response before the ceremonies concluding these meetings.”

“Excellent, I am most honored that you see the wisdom of our request and are willing to give it the attention it is due.” Cha turned to his daughter and smiled again. Eve had stunned everyone again, if that was possible by not wearing any clothes at all during the last meeting. The only “clothes” that she wore were string upon string upon string of tiny planet pearls that were too small to harvest for any energy. The combined effect barely hid her more private areas. Many of the men in the room had nearly fallen over themselves when she had entered earlier.

“My daughter, Eve, has one issue to bring forth before this conference of some importance.” Cha nodded to his daughter.

“In order to promote peace and understanding between the Gaians and Cult I wish to ask that I would be allowed to return with you and your entourage Lady Skye and become the official ambassador for the People of the Planet.” Eve got to her feet and bowed deeply towards Dee which caused all of her beads to shift and move causing many of the men, and some women, to look more closely. “I understand that the receiving of ambassadors is a formality but we People of the Planet place a very high importance on ceremony and honor and as such we ask for you to accept us as your new ambassador.” Cha continued to smile while turning his head toward Dee.

The entire Gaian delegation looked as if it were about to die. Ling was so red in the face it was hard to tell if she would ever turn back again. Several of the others, Colin in particular had turned another shade of red. The exchange of ambassadors had been a simple formality since to refuse one could be seen as a great insult.

“Mistress Eve, I myself, do not have the authority to say yea or nay. When we have our next recess, which I would move to be now due to the complexity of issues we need to deal with before the closing ceremonies, we will discuss it and have the Gaian advisory council will vote on it.” Dee calmly replied.

“With that said, I call for a two hour recess to accommodate the Gaians need to consult amongst themselves and have lunch.” Zakharov gaveled the meeting closed for now and everyone began to file out towards the dining hall or the secure rooms that had been set-aside for each faction. The Gaians all made a beeline for their room but many of the other members moved towards the dining hall.

“My Prophet, do you really think they will accept?” The spymaster asked.

Cha watched as his daughter swayed into the dining hall with a small group of University, Cult and a few lesser Gaian officials. Fookosh walked a few steps behind talking with his University counterpart about the advantages of Cult isles of the deep over the University’s new cruiser ship program. Last week Fookosh had been taken to see the ships in dry dock as they were being built when he returned he seemed very unimpressed.

“Yes, they will accept and do you know why?” Cha replied and the spymaster shook his head no.

“Because it is always best to keep your friends close but keep your enemies closer. Council person Ling will make sure she keeps a close eye on Eve and the more chaos she creates there the more we can be free to operate elsewhere. Eve has instructions to wreak as much havoc as possible without getting herself thrown out by the Gaians.” The spymaster smiled again imagining the conversation Ling must be having.

“I see your point my Prophet. Our teams have departed for Spartan territory as ordered. Perhaps you have reconsidered and will send the teams to the Cyborgs again. The report from the team captain suggested their was more data their for the taking.” The spymaster and Cha had begun to walk to the dining hall as they talked.

“No, the Spartans are next. I suspect they will be easier to penetrate than even the Peacekeepers and if we can lets make it seem that our old friends are at fault.” Cha smiled as he entered the dining hall. It was a scene of chaos to the untrained eye. Fookosh had a large group of people around him and the argument was still ablaze concerning which was better isles or ships. On the other end Eve was holding court dazzling the large group of diplomats. It was only chaos to the untrained eye.

*~*~*~*

“We can’t say no. It would be an insult,” Colin said. His voice expressed no enthusiasm at the prospect of Eve frolicking around Gaia’s Landing.

“I agree,” Terry said. “I will give instructions that all Gaians on the diplomatic and command staff not fraternize with the Eve. It is clear she is a loose cannon.”

“And she needs to be muzzled,” Ling said. “Or,” she said with a smile, “have a little water poured on her gunpowder.” Her smile took on a nasty visage. Colin saw it and shied away.

“What about their second proposal on technology sharing?” Mohammed asked. “My opinion is I see no problem with this exchange since they have agreed to safeguard any Projects to the faction who unlocked the technology’s secrets.”

“I agree,” Dee said. “Terry, could you call a vote?”

He did, and it was unanimous to agree to the Cult proposal.

“Well, if we’re done I think we can go back in,” Terry said, looking at Colin, who had loaded up another plate of the delectable honey glazed mango bread.

“Hmmmph?” he said, his mouth full. He moved to protect his haul as he took it back into the main conference room.

*~*~*~*~*

“Cha Dawn, thank you for suggesting this meeting,” Deirdre said. “It is good to see you face to face, and to exchange views. I hope our future discussions can be this civil.”

Cha Dawn uncrossed his arms, and raised them above his head. His flowing robe billowing with his expansive gesture. “I, too, am pleased with our discussions, and pray it will lead us all to allow the spirit of Planet guide us all in our decisions so that we may all reach a true understanding of peace and love for all people on Planet and Planet!”

Dee nodded to this. After all, how could she disagree with that?

“And I present you with the new Cult of Planet Ambassador, Eve!” he said as he waved toward Eve, so walked slowly to the center of the room. All eyes were on her, and she drank it in.

“Eve speaks for me, the Great Prophet,” he said. “Trust in what she says and you will gain wisdom.”

Cha Dawn took a half step toward Deirdre, then reached up and touched her forehead. “May Planet bless you and your people, and help them hear its voice.”

Then he stepped back, gathered his robes, turned, and left with his entourage. Deirdre and her delegation, plus a grinning Eve, were left with a somewhat befuddled Zakharov in his great hall. Zak had a datapad in his hand, with his prepared speech that he now would never be able to give.

The meeting was over.

[Hydro]

Cult, MY 2276

Lady Skye,

I am distressed to hear that the files on clean reactors have not been sent. I understood that we had both agreed to the arrangement and as such the files on clean reactors would be sent, they were not. Please either send the files to us as agreed to or explain the change in your decision to us.

I am glad that once again peace reigns on Planet between our people and that a new level of understanding has been reached.

The first Prophet of the Planet

Cha Dawn

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++

Eve arrived at the ambassadorial residence and was pleased at what she found. The building was in the older quarter of the city and as such had been built well before the advent of many of the new technologies making the chances that the building was “bugged” low. It also reminded her much more of home since not a single Cult city was near as large as Gaia’s landing. The size, richness and power of the newer towers only spoke volumes of the Gaians dependence on wealth and power of substance.

“Great Mistress Eve it is an honor to meet you again.” Joshua Malister had turned the corner of the main entry hall and with him was the current ambassador.

“Yes, great Mistress Eve, daughter of the light of the Planet, it is our honor to great you to your new home.” The outgoing ambassador quickly walked up to Eve. The ex-ambassador was of the Rangers and he was a Monk, an administrator. He was probably hoping to stay on.

“Come with me, both of you.” Eve began to walk towards the rear of the building where the offices of the ambassador were.

“I want both of you to set-up meetings as soon as possible with all of the Planet friendly factions in the Gaian parliament. We want to restore their power and then more as quickly as possible. It will be my task to do that. My father has given my full access to any amount of funding needed to shift the Gaian political system to our favor. I want action as quickly as possible gentleman and I want to see results as quickly as possible. I want to have meetings this afternoon if possible with the green leaders. If anyone one of them ask for assistance give them anything they want, is that understood?” Eve reached the doors to her new office and they opened immediately as she neared. The inner office was more Gaian the Cult from the looks of it. Eve looked around in distaste at which she saw.

“ I have several transports coming with furnishings within a few days. I want this “stuff’ removed as soon as the new stuff arrives. We are people of the Planet not substance loving Gaians.” Eve walked over the couch and ripped the cushions from it and tossed them to the floor and then gracefully eased herself down.

“In a decade I want to be the will and power behind the Gaian Parliament. We need to move quickly and make sure we can use their system against Lady Skye. If the Gaians love their democracy so much then we will turn their love against them. We need to move quickly but with skill. The Gaian advisory council will soon learn about our actions but if we work within their own laws there is little we can do. Once we seize control of the legislative process then we can dictate our own rules then.”

“Lady Eve, I caution you to move as carefully as possible. Lady Skye is loved by all Gaians perhaps as much as our own Prophet or you!” The ex-ambassador replied.

“I have a plan for her ladyship Skye. I think it is time for her to take a more ceremonial role, to ease back on the responsibility she has to bear. In time she will be no more than a figure head.” Eve rolled slightly to her side revealing her beautiful body to both men.

”Joshua, will you please stay for awhile, please excuse us ambassador.” Eve waved her hands for him to be dismissed and he slowly walked away and out of his old office.

“Now Joshua, if Lady Skye will not avail herself of your talents then I will!” She reached up and pulled him to her on the cushions.

*~*~*~*

Gaia’s Landing, MY 2277

Dear Cha Dawn,

Attached are the specifications for Bio-Engineering. I apologize for the delay, which was an oversight on my part. I trust you will find the data to be useful. We have not had the opportunity to use the clean reactor on our military units, but we likely will soon. In the coming year we will make a breakthrough in Fusion Power, and then our military forces will be upgraded as soon as possible. At this time the Council has not authorized the construction of more military units, although that is possible if some of the old mandates remain unfulfilled.

I appreciate the effort you and your delegation took to enable the conference at University Base. I was heartened that we were able to discuss all issues that are important to both of us in a civil manner, even if we did not always agree. What impressed me the most was the fervor of your beliefs, which seemed to be shared by your entire delegation, and especially your daughter Eve. Other factions have accused we Gaians of being passionate for our causes, but I don’t think it is as focused as your. Perhaps we can learn something from your dedication and perseverance.

Dee

*~*~*~8

Cult, MY 2277

Eve lounged on a huge pile of cushions and pillows while watching her next appointment enter her “office” as she jokingly called it. Three men and two women briskly walked in dressed in the very best business attire and carrying some cases. Eve eased herself up slightly and gestured with her hand to the piles of pillows around her.

“Please be seated. I have ordered refreshments for us in a few minutes but I was glad that you decided to meet with me about my offer.” Eve was dressed in only a light fungal silk robe that was open in front. She smiled to herself watching the three men try NOT to look at her as they maneuvered themselves to sit down, something Gaians rarely did it seems was sit on pillows instead of chairs.

“Mistress Eve, your proposition was both unexpected and exciting. First, on behalf of my firm we accept your proposal. Brinks and Roberts Media Group is the largest and the leader in the public relations field. What I am still unclear about is why do you want to employ us?” Mr. Markus Right asked while juggling his briefcase on his lap.

“Simply put, to build a new image of the Cult. Many lies have been spread about us. Lies about the Cult’s foreign policy to our religion. It seems that after consulting with the leaders of the Green Party that for the Cult to play any part in helping the Gaians appreciate us we need to begin from scratch. I will deposit the sum of 20 million credits into your account.” Eve stopped for a moment as one of the ladies slipped from her cushion from shock the others had stunned looks on their faces. “The funds are for a campaign for you to build to remold the image of the Cult. You are to use the funds as you see fit to do with in any fashion you desire. I want to see a plan, an overview in a week. After that I want a full blitz, whatever it takes for how many years it takes.” Eve finished and clapped her hands. From a door at the side of the room robed women entered carrying plates of fungal fruit and breads with a large pot of fungal tea. They quickly dispersed the food and drink to each guest then departed.

“I have to be blunt and ask you this question up front. Why us and what is your end purpose?” Mr. Right asked.

“Simple. Your firm is the largest firm there is and as such has the clout to get things done. You also have some power when it comes to withstanding pressure from the Gaian Parliament. These are important since my ultimate goal is to reform your people so that they will be more friendly to the Cult and we will gain greater influence over it.” One of the men sitting next to Markus began choking on his tea.

“What you are suggesting could be seen by some as sedition, treason.” He replied while staring her straight in the eyes.

“Yes, I suppose it could, by some. That is why I am hiring you. I need your expertise to stop me, stop us, from taking that last step. I want you to bend the law to its uppermost limit, and then stop. Then try again.” Eve reached down and picked up a piece of bread and scooped up some fungal humus.

“I see, now that I know your ultimate goal what if I were to say that we now decline the job.”

“You won’t.”

Markus sat for a moment watching this woman, if she could be called that for a few minutes. What she was offering was a challenge of a lifetime, the ultimate expression of politics, advertising and power. It took him only a second longer to decide.

“Your right, I won’t but how did you know.”

“Because for decades the philosophy of wealth and the power that it brings has been bred into you and your people. It is your system that will allow such a thing. If your people are true to their cause, their leader Lady Skye, then the sum total of our efforts will most probably result in only a small benefit to us. If, however, they are true to their nature, the pursuit of wealth, then we will be able to move things very quickly to a level that will only benefit us. Then when the Cult has influence over your political system then we can bring about changes that will benefit both the Cult and you.” Eve stood up and walked over to markus who quickly scrambled to his feet.

“Do we have a deal?”

“Yes.”

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++

Gaian holo-vid channel 23

A child, dressed like an native American Indian walks through the streets of Gaia’s landing looking up in amazement at the tall towers and shiny steel beams around her then fading to a forest like environment of northern America. The child walks amongst the trees and river laughing and smiling. The picture fades again to late 20th century United States and the small Indian child is dirty and beaten. Pollution and smog fill the air bringing tears to her eyes she walks among the people who hit her while she stumbles on broken concrete. Then the picture fades again to a mind worm which looks weak and beaten as well, it searches for some fungus to restore it but sees only the tall towers of the Gaian capital in the background and stand after stand of forests. The mind worm slows and then stops and begins then to disintegrate. Then a wispy form of the small Indian girls stands next to the worm, tears falling from her loving eyes. In the background, slightly above the sobs of the child you hear.

“Who was right then and who is right now? Don’t both deserve the right to live in harmony with their environment? Help support our efforts and the work of thousands of other people to make sure we do not make the same disaster twice.”

Below that in small letters reads “The new Gaian green party, charting a new direction for both Planet and for humans!”

[Hydro]

Gaia’s Landing, MY 2278

Deirdre looked over the statistics that Mohammed had given her at the last Council meeting. It was quite instructive, since it showed the relative disposition of the factions on Planet.

Gaians – pop 334, 28 bases, research 1573, infrast. Maint. 425, tech adv 39
Cult – pop 102, 27 bases, research 290, infr maint 84, tech adv 37
Cyborgs – pop 58, 14 bases, research 160, infr maint 36, tech 34
University – pop 52, 11 bases, research 274, infr maint 32, tech 38
Spartans – pop 36, 10 bases, research 50, infr maint 37, tech 28,
Hive – pop 6 (!!), 1 base, 5 research, infr maint 1, tech 35
PK – pop 66, 14 bases, 107 research, infr maint 23, tech 31

It was clear the Cult and University were doing a brisk amount of technology trading, and were doing a good job holding their own even with a lower technology research ability. Indeed, Zak had almost managed to pull ahead of the Cult in technology output, something Dee didn’t think would have been possible long ago. It was also interesting how all the factions except the Cult and Gaians had about the same number of bases, as if they had some tacit agreement to limit their expansion. Then there was the poor Hive, which the Cult had conquered long ago. His empire had always been small, and then the Cult had taken two of his four bases, and then later demanded they give up one of their two remaining bases. Shameful, simply shameful. Still, the Cult was generous in keeping the Hive’s technology up to date, for what good that did them. Still, that is an object lesson. The Council had approved the transfer of three technologies to Pravin, and more would likely come soon.

One important nugget of information that Dee noted was the infrastructure maintenance figure. The Gaians had five times the maintenance, and hence infrastructure, as any other faction. That was the key to Gaian growth, and their resource and research rate. This Gaian lead had been growing, and it showed no signs of decelerating, either.

The breakthrough in Fusion was nothing short of critical. Dee remembered how Ling was almost dancing in the halls when the news came through. Her grand plans for military upgrades were now economically feasible, and they would be pressed through in good order. A side benefit was that supply crawlers and foils were now economic, and these would start harvesting energy now that minerals and industrial production were much less important. After all, land was being raised between Gaians and Cyborg lands to connect their island with a smaller island, the idea being that it would be a energy park, since each forest square yielded four energy for Gaian’s Landing.

To her, fusion power wasn’t about the military. Seven fusion labs had been started, and with their completion in four to six years Gaian research would skyrocket again, this time without a population boom. That was a good thing – the nasty, messy, and disruptive population booms were a thing of the past. That would likely make the Cult happy.

Dee put the flimsy on the night table, and turned down the covers. She was feeling her age again, and it might be time for another serious longevity treatment. It was much easier now that the Longevity Vaccine was complete, but it still was traumatic.

There was so much to do, she thought. Maybe this one more time.

*~*~*~*

Cult, MY 2278

The prophet swept into the central military command center of the Cult and walked quickly up the General Fookosh who was standing next to the large holo-projector. The holo-table had a map of the seas just south of the Cyborg territory and displayed on it was a projection of the Cyborg ship next to the Cult foil.

“My Prophet, at just after dawn the Cyborg ship was detected on our short range radar here.” General Fookosh motioned with his hands and the holo-table shifted to present a more detailed view of the area in question and both ships were now seen. “The captain of our scout foil did try to make radio contact with the Cyborg ship but no response. At shortly after 6:53AM the Cyborg ship came into weapons range and began firing. The ship was identified as one of their new Gatling cruisers, most likely the one just completed at their naval yards at their capital. Within a minute the cruiser had the foil bracketed with its main gun and at 6:55AM the ship was blown from the water. All hands were lost. We do have video feed from the bridge before the ship was lost, do you want to see it?”

“Yes.”

The video started just minutes before the attack. The ship was already at general quarters and the small bridge of the foil was fully staffed. The captain was issuing orders for evasive actions as a blinding light erupted near the horizon to the north and a stream of laser beams began hitting the ship’s thin hull. As each beam hit an explosion of liquefied metal and gases erupted all around the ship then suddenly the video stopped.

For a few minutes no one said a word as they looked up at the blank screen.

“That was our first scout foil, I am correct?” Cha asked in flat voice.

“Yes my Prophet, it was. The ship was due for decommissioning soon since the advent of cruiser hulls production by the other factions made the ship obsolete. However, it was still seaworthy and was performing scouting functions still.” Replied Fookosh.

“What is your response plan?” Cha turned to Fookosh and starred at the man with great intensity.

“My Prophet we have two isles of the deep escorting a sea colony to the area just north of the University main island area. Once the isles escort the sea colony pod there they can continue on and scour the sea in search of the cruiser and engage it. As long as the isles strike first I have no doubt as to the outcome.” Fookosh added with some pride in his voice.

“And after that?” Cha asked.

“My prophet, once the espionage teams have been landed on Spartan soil the isle can return to the north and assist the two isles there. I have also made contact with the guides of two of our isles in the west and they will move to the east in support bringing our total native force to five isles of the deep. There will also be the isle stationed at our northern sea base that could be called in as a reserve. However, with five isles we are more than a match for the Cyborgs. It is crucial that we intercept any transport they have in route to us since our Hive holdings are still not up to full defensive capabilities and I would bet that is where they would make the first landings. It would offer them a critical foothold to press any conflict against us. The advantage is still in our favor. The Cyborgs are conducting a long-range campaign and as such they would have a hard time resupplying and repairing any ships. While we can rest our isles in the fungus and wait for the next ship to come.” Fookosh had punched a few buttons on the holo-table and as he was talking details of his plan popped up showing which units were moving and to where.

“Excellent General. I will issue orders to put more priority on raising mind worms and isles of the deep to give you the forces you need.” Cha was about to leave but Fookosh suddenly asked another question.

“My Prophet, one last thing, if I may. What, if any, political considerations should we account for?”

“None. I have no intention of standing before Lady Skye pleading our case against the Cyborgs. As far as they are concerned the ship was lost at sea. Unless the Cyborgs make an issue of it, which I doubt, this is just between them and us. I have issued orders to the espionage teams to implicate the Cyborgs when they penetrate the Spartan network. The Spartans could make a worthy ally for us and Corzaon understands the phrase, “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” So we shall see how that goes. We have our very best teams on it and I have no doubt that they will succeed. Once we eliminate the new Cyborg cruisers then we can move on to hitting their sea colonies. As long as you keep the war on their door front and not ours General all will be well.” Cha turned and walked away slowly with a slight limp.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++

The vid-camera kept a tight shot on Eve, as she was standing in front of small, old building near the old section of Gaia’s Landing. Around her were several ranger priests and a monk and they were helping Eve with the feeding of some very poor people. The name on the building read: “Green Party first Aid Station #1”

The report wormed her way to the front of the line, much to the annoyance of some of the people standing in line. When she reached the beginning she found her target, mistress Eve. Eve was wearing a simple Gaian green suit but it had been altered dramatically to show off her attributes.

“Ambassador Eve, may I ask you a few questions?” The report stuck out her microphone.

“Yes, of course and please just call me Eve.”

“Eve, why are you here helping out at one of the new Green Parties aid stations?”

“If there are people in need I am always there. It is key to our faith that we help those less fortunate then ourselves and the past policies of the government have left many without the skills, or training to prosper in this society. We are here to help them get back on their feet and contribute to society. Just last week I led a small group of people into the countryside to try and restore some fungus. The Planet could have benefited from the fungus and the people were paid a decent wage.” Eve continued to talk and ladle soup into bowls.

“What do you mean, “could have benefited”?” The reporter asked.

“Well, we were turned back by Gaian authorities claiming we had no right to disturb the hybrid forests. All we wished to do was aid the Planet in a small way but according to the guards we had no right to do it. I was just helping a small group of “new greens” in discovering the beauty of the fungus when they were turned back at gunpoint. The fact that council person Ling herself was there and armed only seems to indicate how desperate they have become in their bid to cling to power.” Eve continued to ladle out soup to the impoverished but somehow still seemed maintain of an air of sexuality.

“From the polls the New Greens, as they are called, look like they will become a significant player in the new parliament but will not be able to gain any majority. With that being said what is your prediction?”

“Well, being an ambassador I have to remain aloof, so to speak. But I feel that helping out the New Greens transcends politics when I can help these poor Gaian people gain some respect and dignity and learn that life on Planet can be different.” The reporter turns back to the camera and flashes a quick smile.

“Well, there you have it. Polls show that the progressives will hold a slim margin in parliament but they will have to work with the New Greens if they hope to push through any legislation. The New Greens have shown that they are organized and disciplined with a focus that they have never shown before. It also helps that they have the funding to help support their new efforts towards not only helping the environment but also their fellow Gaians. Thank you for listening.”

*~*~*~*

Gaia’s Landing, MY 2279

“We’re drifting! We’re much too comfortable. Something has to change!” Ling said. “Parliament is a mess. Oh, there is as much infighting as ever, but now they are fighting over the fighting, and it is getting them nowhere. They’re perfectly happy with their wealth-based green democracy…”

“What’s not to like?” Colin asked. “We have the most contented people on Planet, regardless of what some politicians might say.”

“You’re referring to those loopy New Greens. They weren’t so bad after they split from the Greens decades ago, but now their starting to sound like Cha and his sluttish daughter.”

Terry stepped in. “Ling, remember that this is all recorded and generally available.”

“Someone has to say the truth,” she said, her comments partially directed at Terry. “As I was saying, we need to do something! A Project, or some grand cause.”

“You’re just upset that your military increases were denied again,” Colin said.

“Damn right!” Ling snapped. “We are supposed to be upgrading our existing military with new fusion reactors, but there is nothing of the type happening! We spent over 500 energy the year we had the breakthrough, then nothing! We’ll regret this, mark my words.”

“Good point, Ling,” Terry said. “I’ll talk to the Greens and see if I can dislodge a few votes. How much will you need?”

“Depends on what they want,” Ling said. “If we want to upgrade to a clean configuration it will cost much more, but then you’ll save on support later. Or we could do a cheap upgrade, and leave infantry supported from their home base. Either way, I don’t care. I just want these upgrades done!”

Terry took some notes. “I’ll see what they’ll agree to. I assume you’ve already spoken with the Progressives?”

“Yes,” she said, “but they’ve been distracted recently. Their coalition is down to a five seat majority, so they’re spending all their time arm twisting.”

“Fine,” he said. “Throw out some round numbers.”

“For a general upgrade, 750 megajoules. For a clean upgrade 1500 megajouls,” she said, not missing a beat.

“We’d be better off building new and scrapping the old,” Colin said, staggered by the amounts energy being bantered about.

“You’re probably right,” Ling said. “This is good for our few high-morale units, and where we can’t take a city out of production for a year or two. Remember that the Parliament has generally denied all new builds. Base commanders don’t like it either since it reduces their future output, and they can be labeled a war monger.”

“I would like to see more sea colonies,” Mohammed said. “They are very economical now with fusion power. We have plenty of space to our north, southwest, and southeast.”

“I like that,” Ling said. All eyes turned to her. She almost never said anything to support Mohammed unless it was militarily related. “They can be our advance ears and eyes, and we can base our navy there.”

Terry looked at Mohammed. “Talk to base commanders, informally of course. If you don’t have any luck we can send it through parliament, but it is rather late in the year.”

Mohammed nodded.

“Any other business?” Terry asked.

“Yes,” Colin said. “Dee is doing just fine in the tanks, and should be back in a month or two. Also, you may remember that the Cyborgs declared vendetta against the Cult a short while ago. I contacted Aki and asked her to end the vendetta, but she mentioned something about taking payment and that it would be illogical to end the war. Who would pay her to go to war?”

That got Ling’s attention. “Are the Cult at war with anyone else?”

“Not that I know of. The Cyborgs seem to be at peace, too”

“Follow it as you can, and be sure to inform Dee when she gets out. So, unless there is any other business we are adjourned.”

[Hydro]

Cult, MY 2279

Cha waited patiently for the secure link to be established between him and his daughter. Cha folded his fingers silently meditating while waiting.

“My Prophet, the link is secure, mistress Eve is ready to receive your call.” The communications tech chimed in over the communications line.

“Send it through now.” Cha turned back the screen that lit up and then the face of Eve popped up.

“Greetings my father, I hope you are well?” Eve asked.

“I am well. I will soon have to take another treatment but I will hold off as long as I can. Has Skye returned from her treatment?”

“Yes, my father, she has.” Eve replied with a small hint of bitterness.

“How fares your work there?” Cha questioned.

“The Gaian parliament is shifting towards our cause. The “New Greens” have been very effective and I see no reason that in a few more turns they could begin to push through legislation that is beneficial to us. We have been very careful to keep our direct ties to the “New Greens” lawful and above board so that we do not give council person Ling any fuel for her fires.” Eve replied somewhat proudly.

“I need for you to push the Gaians to offer all of the factions fusion power, especially us. If they will not then our only option is to send in espionage teams to the Cyborgs and steal it. I am prepared to do so but I would rather not pursue that right now. The simple fact of the matter is that we pursue technologies in fields that do not lend themselves to the advancement of our “hard” science capabilities. We pursue technologies with a native application, pure and simple. However, if we had access to these more advanced technologies such as fusion power we would maintain parity with the others and our garrison units would be the equals of any other faction.”

“I understand father. Is there anything else?” Eve asked.

“No, not right now. Know that I am pleased with your work. The Gaians seemed to be stuck in the mud right now leaving them open to advances and changes. I intend to send a communication to Skye to protest the future expansion of the Gaians if they do not promise to limit the size of their bases, be prepared. May Planet shine on you and give you peace my daughter, Cha out.”

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++

Lady Skye and the Gaian advisory council:

It has been made known to us of your plans to expand your holdings further then you have promised in previous communications. We would like to know the reasons for this? In keeping with our new spirit of cooperation I felt that before any misunderstandings occur I wanted to inform you that we want to work with you not against you. We understand that eventually you would seek some expansion and with that in mind we have not protested. However, we do have great concerns that you Gaians seem to have a tendency for expansive growth. We People of the Planet have expanded as well but as you can see our bases are small and they do not overly stress the surrounding areas on Planet. We have made a commitment to ourselves and Planet that only the home islands and one base per each continent outside of the home islands will ever expand beyond 7,000 souls. We would like to ask you to make the same promise to limit any future cities, either sea or land, to no more than 7 to 10,000 souls per city. We see no reason to make an issue of your right to expand in waters or land that our currently “unclaimed”. However, we do want to make an issue of over-population! We People of the Planet have made a claim to a certain area of land that we wish to protect and secure for the health and benefit of Planet. We have established bases along the perimeter of that area in line with securing our claim. We would take great offense and do all that we can to eliminate any other faction from expanding in our territory. With that being said we do not want to restrict any other faction from expansion only that they would keep in mind other factions territorial concerns and the Planets well being. So we are only asking that you are respectful of our claims and the claims of others and that you would “restrict” your vertical expansion along the same lines as us. We hope that common ground on this subject can be reached by us all.

In light of our reasonable request to build a new bridge of understanding between our two people it would be my hope that you would also share with other faction’s technology that would aid us in reducing our dependence on Planet’s resources. Perhaps sharing your knowledge of fusion power would go a great distance to reducing all of the other factions’ deep dependence upon Planet’s resources. I hope that you will understand that sharing technology that benefits the human condition and more importantly Planet will go a great distance to restoring the bridge of understanding between us.

First Prophet of the Planet

Cha Dawn

*~*~*~*

Dreams of Green, MY 2280

Dear Cha Dawn,

I have been appointed by the Council to respond to your requests since Deirdre Skye is indisposed.

First, I must say that I am not entirely clear what you mean when you accuse us of making “plans to expand your holdings further then you have promised in previous communications.” The areas where we are expanding were detailed in previous communications. Specifically, we are establishing bases proximate but not adjacent to Children of Earth at the Manifold Nexus because of our agreements not to have this base exceed a population of four, which it did when it went to 8,000 citizens during our last population boom. As a result, we have established two bases and will establish at least two more to maintain this agreement we made with your people. This means that the unoccupied land will have scattered bases, and these have been placed to maximize spacing between bases. It is our intent to gift most of these bases to other friendly factions, those that we can trust. We might also gift a base to a faction in need of assistance, or that has limited growing room. In either case this excludes the Cult.

It appears you have read the Council transcripts, edited versions of which are freely available, on our plans to expand our sea base presence. At some point in the near future we will begin forming fusion sea colonies, and these colonies will be established in and around our mainland. There are no plans to place these bases proximate to your territory; I suggest you re-read your inadequate intelligence reports, since they are wrong.

The only other bases we have established recently were in the Jungle, and these were completed to facilitate navigation between seas since they would act as a lock-and-dam. Again, we clearly told you of our intent, and these bases have been in existence for over a decade so this should hardly be a surprise. If you have any other grievances relating to Gaian expansion plans please be more specific since both of our time is valuable.

The Council has rejected your request that we limit our population to 10,000 people at new bases. Each base will be allowed to grow at its normal rate. Now, before you have a fit you should know that at this time the Council sees no reason to authorize another population boom. Note that it is possible this might change if serious wars break out on Planet, or if one or more factions engage in a war of aggression against another. We are a peaceful people, but do not like to be threatened directly or have our friends threatened. I trust my point is taken. Moreover, your assertion about pollution and levels of population are patently untrue, and I challenge you to present any tangible proof to the Council. If and when you do we will re-consider your arguments, but you should know that our experience is that population has nothing to do with pollution. The key to ensuring no ecological pollution is keeping industrial levels in line with a locale’s ability to sustain such production, and that is based on a faction’s understanding of Planet (and what it can sustain) and the improvements that mitigate or nullify the effects of industrial production on Planet. In essence, we Gaians have figured out how to have a sustainable industrial production and live in harmony with Planet. Can your Cult of Planet say the same?

The Council has also rejected your request for Fusion Power. You deserve a reason, and it is this: Fusion Power’s main strength is military, and your faction has demonstrated that it is the most aggressive faction on Planet. For almost a hundred years the Council believed this dubious prize when to Santiago, but she has been quiescent. In fact, I know of no wars that have been declared upon her people, or wars she has initiated. The Hive stands in thrall to your ambitions, and to us that is enough to deny your people this technology. Eventually you will get this technology, but we will all be safer while it is out of your hands. The Council will consider granting this technology to other factions, but that will be on a basis of need, primarily if an aggressive faction is attacking them.

Council Member Lu Ling

*~*~*~*

Cult, MY 2280

Councilperson Ling,

I was disheartened to read that you of all people were “elected” to be the voice of reason for the Gaians. Your hatred of our life, our people, is well documented in all of your public records. So I will be brief and to the point until some other representative is chosen to “talk” for your people I see no reason to continue discussing any issues with you since any issue we wish to forward will be dismissed.

When Lady Sky returns please inform her that I wish to “discuss” with her important issues to both of us. Since it is the Gaian people who decide your affairs guided by the wise Lady Skye I see no reason to deal with you and your twisted preconceptions.

The Light of the Planet, First Prophet of the Planet,

Cha Dawn


Cha watched the vid-feed of the first two Hive cities that the Cult had conquered and he was impressed. Both cities had completed the remodeling and improvements and now they were both proper Cult cities. The deep mines and warrens had been filled in and all of the people of both cities lived above ground in the light. The report then went on to show the placement of the newest sea base just north of the main University holdings, Nineveh Rising. Cha smiled to himself thinking the placement of the base was only fair since Zakharov had built a base just north of the Cult. He was sure Zakharov must be having fits of the base but what concerned Cha more was the approaching Cyborg ships. Two isles were now stationed at the new base ready to strike out if they detected the Cyborg ship. From the map on the screen three more isles were racing north into that area to provide support that made him feel a little better.

What troubled Cha today was the report of more worm sign in the wilderness area. A spore launcher and a worm had been sighted and had done some damage to the small improvements made in those areas. Cha had issued orders for the Cult worm in the area in the north to make all speed to intercept the spore launcher and capture it. In the south the garrison had been “beefed” up to hopefully withstand an attack if one was made. It was still Cha’s hope that it could be captured but he had a bad feeling about that worm for some reason.

Cha reached for his staff and slowly stood up. He needed another shot of painkiller soon or time in the tanks to rejuvenate. However, Eve was at Gaia’s Landing and she was working on a project too important to be removed now. The doctors told him that he must return to the tanks soon, within four turns or the process would not work. Cha thought more about that each day. Was it “natural” to continue with these treatments? Should science control life in such a manner that the natural order of life was thwarted? How could he preach conservation and limitations when he of all people had cheated death so many times. If he did not go in for treatments he would live only another 30 turns perhaps 40. There was still time to decide but each day Cha thought that the time was near to join the great spirit of the Planet.

*~*~*~*

Gaia’s Landing, MY 2281

“Did you need to be so antagonistic?” Colin asked after he finished reading Ling’s message to the Cult.

“Nothing in there is untrue,” Ling said.

“That’s beside the point,” Deirdre said. “Your phrasing was deliberately hostile, and you know it.”

Ling shrugged, and there was a barely discernable smile on her face.

“I move that Deirdre be reinstated to her role in diplomacy now that she is fully recovered,” Colin said. “We have to do what we can to maintain dialog with all factions, even those that might have given us offense in the past.”

“Second,” Mohammed said. “We don’t want a war with the Cult. It would imperil our base improvement is we underwent a full scale military upgrade and building program.”

The vote went to reinstate Dee, with only Ling abstaining. “Good,” Terry said, “let the Cult know you’re back in action, Dee.”

“Now,” Terry said. “We’re all concerned about how Greenhouse Gate is faring after their Planet Blight epidemic. How goes the re-vegetation at Greenhouse Gate?”

Mohammed straightened. “Our six formers will be done re-establishing the forests in by 2284, and they are almost all reformed now. Only the remote areas require work. As the forests are reformed the production has increased at Gate, which still has a minimal 12 mineral production at this time. Our energy allocations to assist them in finishing base improvements have helped.

“The main negative consequence has been the diversion of these formers from being upgraded to fusion and armor, and clean technology, and their use to continue the construction of the land bridge to the north island, and the formation of the energy park.”

Ling perked up. “How about forming some new land and an energy park to the south? This would save them the long trip north, which is a huge waste of time.”

Mohammed thought for a minute. “That has merit. The main issue would not destroying sea improvements that have been completed, or minimizing the destruction. With six formers it should be quick work.”

“All other bases,” he continued, “are completing research hospitals or fusion labs, with a few that are behind schedule still working on hybrid forests or biology labs. Happily, most biology labs are complete so there is much less change of a Planet Blight striking again without immediate countermeasures.”

“How about Centauri Preserves,” Dee asked. “I think the only one is at Landing. I’d like to see more of these at more bases, especially not that hybrid forests are complete. While I support the merging of Earth and Planet life forms, it is nice to see the fungal ecosystems in their natural environments.”

“Then go to the huge unpopulated islands and continents where no one has ever been,” Ling said. “I can think of other uses for those minerals. And don’t forget that that could push our infrastructure maintenance budge over the edge. I suggest we build a few at a selected bases, but not at all bases.”

Dee wasn’t very happy at that suggestion, but didn’t contradict the position.

“Speaking of energy budget, how are we doing?” Terry asked Mohammed.

“At this point we are allocation 80% of our energy to our labs, 10% to our people, and 10% to our energy production. We have a maintenance need of about 480, and a surplus of 140. That, with our trade surplus, gives us a generous budget to work with.”

“But not enough to give me the 1500 for upgrades,” Ling said.

“That is true,” Mohammed said, “but you are receiving at least 200 energy a year, and this year 300. That should be enough for the time being.”

This time Ling was silent.

*~*~*~*

Cult, MY 2281

Cha slammed his fist down as hard as he could on the holo-table in frustration.

“Tell me again why the team blundered into such an obvious trap!” Cha roared.

“My Prophet, the team leaders felt that coming through the fungus from the north was the best course of action. However, the presence of the Spartan terra-former slowed their advance. The team was caught and treated very nicely by the Spartans who returned them to our nearest base. However, our second team is in range of the base and should be able to penetrate the base where the other team failed.” The spymaster reported with some frustration leaking through.

“I want to be clear on this. I want to the virus planted at all costs!” Cha fired back.

“Yes my Proph-“ Cha was suddenly cut off by general Fookosh's yelling.

“My Prophet! Our isle of the deep that is stationed just north of Nineveh Rising just reported in that the Cyborg ship tried to attack them in the sea fungus but the ship was destroyed by the isle’s counterattack!” Fookosh raced over to hand Cha the report who stood silently reading it then a small smile crept across his face.

“Excellent Fookosh, excellent! Well, done indeed. Order the isles to press their advantage when the additional isles arrive and bottle up the Cyborg fleet and destroy their sea bases at will!” Cha turned and began to leave the room when an alarm went off in the room, the alarm for worms landing on the home islands. Cha quickly turned back and raced over to the station and watched as several mind worms had landed next to Mind of the Planet. The report asked for guidance.

“Order the city committee to send out their garrison worm first to capture, if possible the rogue worms. Any worm not brought under the guides control have it destroyed and the planet pearls are to be brought to command central for processing.” Cha began to pray that the worms would bond.

“My Prophet, what of the report of the garrison unit being destroyed at our southern base?” The spymaster asked.

”Send word to Ramos to have a special unit prepared to deal with the worm that is wounded. I for one know more than anyone how dangerous a wounded worm can be.” Cha then turned and left the room leaving a very satisfied Fookosh to finish his orders to the field teams while the spymaster sat somewhat dejectedly.



To the Spartan Leader Col. Corazon Santiago:

I humbly give thanks for your treatment of our intelligence team that got lost while scouting new sources for worms. I assure you that the team was simply searching for new areas for us to bond more worms to our people. No foul purpose was intended if that was your concern.

My most gracious thanks,

The light of the Planet, First Prophet of the True Spirit of the World.

Cha Dawn

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++


TO CYBORG COMMAND:

We are informing you that no survivors will be returned to your people since they were all killed during the conflict with our isle of the deep. In the process of defeating your fine and proud vessel the isle “ingested” much of the ship along with the crew. Please take some comfort that the great Prophet himself, Cha Dawn, did say a prayer of passing for them as they are now with a greater spirit.

Your relentless actions against our people, holdings and forces will avail you not. You should look for terms of peace with us or face further dire consequences.

The Cult of the Planet

General Fookosh
Commander in Chief of all Cult forces and Guild Master of the Guild of Guides.