Life2.0 - An "Of Unity" Narrative (Completed)

[CBR JGWRR]

"Conscripts and Freemen, Part 3"
8th Daas, 5 (2182)
Odoos​

If we had doors on these tents, I'd kick the door to hers in. Damn that woman, I gave her one job, and she did anything but what I asked! I slam my good wing on the table. "Naomi, why has the entire army been sent home?"

She shrugs, casually. "I didn't send them all home."

I scowl. "You were supposed to encourage them!"

"I did."

I shout. "You completely missed the point!" Take a moment, calm down. She responds to logic, not emotion. "How are we going to defend ourselves with only a thousand soldiers?"

"Odoos, if the enemy comes here they will bombard us from orbit. We won't defend ourselves, we're still rebuilding the technology to get our own rockets off the planet. Once we can do that, I've got a few ideas, but for now if MSI turn up, we're dead. I am not going to waste my time on a strategy I know will fail."

I simmer. "I thought you were going to, you know, develop our armed forces."

She smiles. Sometimes, that smile is so frustrating. "I kept the ones that I can do the most good with."

I rub my head with my wing, try to relieve the stress. "Let's get this straight. What the heck are you doing?"

She leans back in her chair. Still casual. "Odoos, you aren't thinking about how to win, you're thinking about how to get elected."

Damn her, making this about politics. "Of course I am! So should you."

She stood, The blade she took from the captain flashes into the desk. "My objective is to win the war."

With no army? What is she thinking? There's not enough. "What is your plan, oh wise woman? How can a thousand soldiers bring down MSI, hmm?"

"A thousand soldiers can't. But a thousand people like me can."

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm training them to do everything I can do." Her smile returns. "Everything."

"We already have you."

She shook her head. "And one me isn't enough."

"Of course one you is enough."

She smiled. This one is.. Disturbing. "No. Imagine it Odoos. Imagine what would happen if we unleashed a thousand Rebellions like our own."

"MSI would defeat them."

She stands, and walks around the tent. "Even if only one percent succeed, that would be ten successful rebellions. The number of enemies they would have to deal with increases by an order of magnitude, and the general chaos the remaining ninety nine percent cause would make them unable to put together a single response."

"And that would?"

"Ultimately buy time for me to rebuild the technology levels suitable for hauling asteroids into low orbit and then overhaul them into coilgun and laser artillery batteries, while also allowing developing evacuation transports to get our people out of the firing line from MSI."

"The Council aren't going to approve this."

She idly fiddles with paperwork. "Which is precisely why I didn't bother informing them." Then she looks straight at me, very seriously. "And you won't inform them either."

Damn her. "You tyrant."

She laughs. "Oh, if I was a tyrant, I would summon the legions available to me and remove the Council. I'm not, so I will ignore them until they put the freedom of this colony in jeopardy."

"What legions? We had to draft people because there were no volunteers."

"Correction. You had to, because no one respects the ability to lead you and the Council possess. If I issued a call to arms however, I have a thousand under my command and as High Queen of the Xenayans, one sentence from me summons twenty thousand Xenayan fighters of all ages. By the time I issue a general call to defend the freedom of the colony from those who seek to betray us, I could be proclaimed queen with almost a hundred thousand people under arms supporting me."

I quickly work out the factors. I hope she's overestimating, but she might not be. "Damn you."

She sees my hesitation to respond. "You know that I am right."

Change tactic. Get her on the defensive. "Why are you so manipulative?"

"Would you prefer me to use force? My objective is to defeat MSI and remove them from being a threat. Once I've done that, I will retire with Buri and enjoy the freedom I fought for. I prefer working together, which is why I tell you any of this, as I don't want you for an enemy Odoos."

I've been outmatched. "If I take this to the Council, you will declare some kind of benevolent monarchy and probably win without firing a shot. If I take this to my own party, there's nothing we can do about it. If I take this to the people, it would be civil war."

She holds out a hand. "Hate me, but fight by my side."

My options are... Join her. "What's the point in hating you?"

"Well, I've been manipulating you all along for a start."

"Just how long?"

"Oh, the moment you declared the Mutual Defence League, I evaluated the organisation and figured out how to get their goals to align with mine."

"It would make your job easier if I joined you. And you would tell me everything."

"Of course."

"Ok Naomi, you're too good at manipulating me. I'd rather know what's going on. Do you know if there are MSI operatives inside rejoin MSI?"

"There's only a few harmless individuals who took extra rations in exchange for turning in shipmates; I have a list taken from the former captain."

"Are you sure?"

"MSI know they don't need to bother planting spies when slaves will turn on each other for an extra meal. They were ever so sorry about it."

"And you can't tell me more because they are operatives."

"Some are, not all of them accepted my offer."

I look at the clock, feign excuse. "Oh, ah. I have to go. I'll tell the Council that you are setting up a new network of instructors as a cover story."

She smiles. "That works, thank you."

 

[CBR JGWRR]

"Conscripts and Freemen, Part 4"
Late Evening 8th Daas, 5 (2182)
Odoos​

Naomi stands at the door to my makeshift abode. "Odoos, now that we're allies, we need to figure out a joint plan."

"Come in then."

She walks in, and she looks around my sparse little hut.

Apart from pictures of my family, it's pretty undecorated. "I'm afraid I don't have much furniture. Used to not having it I suppose."

She sits. "The floor is fine. I want to understand your perspective better. I know that MSI took you from your homeworld and killed your wife. I'm sorry for you, for her."

"It wasn't her they killed."

She leans towords me. "What happened?"

I settle down opposite her. "They stole us in the night, me and my wife. Our hatchlings tried to fight back, and they were killed. My wife died because they worked her until she couldn't work anymore, and then..."

Naomi puts her arms around me. "I'm so sorry they recycled her."

I stop her. "Please, let me finish. They didn't recycle her. She committed suicide."

She looks at me, and I see her compassion. "Oh no."

I look right into her eyes. "The thing is Naomi, you never actually had something be yours, did you? You were never free until you killed that captain."

She nods. "No, I had nothing... Born a slave in administration, they sent me to be a Companionship Asset later in my childhood. That's where I learned to manipulate, making friends with Minamar as they were supposed to be learning how to rule; it was a survival technique. Then I was sent to the Initimate Companionship side, where the boys I grew up with wanted to try out new experiences with me, and I had regulars. I didn't even have clothes... I could lease them, but whenever someone leased me they would always tick the 'Unclothed Lease' box. Which meant my clothes were taken away because of the change of leaseholder and I was billed for early termination of contract. So at seventeen I decided not to wear clothes any more. Couldn't afford them."

I know the feeling... "They billed us for the bullets that killed our hatchlings."

She raises both eyebrows. "Wow... They are evil. I thought I had it bad for having to spend all those years naked... That's just pure evil."

I sigh. "And they billed us for the medical care of the mercenaries they injured, and their lost wages while recovering... We could only just cope. I was a construction worker manager, she a domestic servant. At the start, before she was ill, we were able to put together a decent life together. So they used us as advertising how life is for Indentured Assets. But the debts started to pile up. And when she got ill..."

"You guys couldn't afford the debts."

"She had to quit work, and then I had to quit to take care of her. And the debts skyrocketed. So she killed herself. We went to bed one night, and when I woke, she... She had left a note. She was so sorry, but she knew that if we couldn't pay, they would sell us, or recycle us, especially as she was ill. She explained how she she wanted to give me a chance before it was too late, and they recycled both of us. I was sold as a foreman for the ship we were on."

"I'm so sorry Odoos."

"What makes it even worse is that she died from complications with the sterilisation procedure."

She tilts her head. "I thought they let us breed?" Brief pause. " I mean, even we weren't sterilised." partially to herself perhaps?

I nod. "Normally, yes. But because our hatchlings fought back, they decided we were unsuitable. And so they irradiated her ovaries and made all her eggs unviable. Gave her cancer in the process."

She puts her arms around me. "Words fail me... That is just..."

"It's easy for you to think of attacking MSI Naomi. You've never lost. I have. And I am terrified that they will come back, and put our colony through it again. And while I understand your desire to go on the offensive..."

She pulls back. Facial expression is back in her analytical mode. "You're afraid that I will lose."

"Not so much; I don't doubt you Naomi. It's more that you are indispensable to us here. We can't lose you, you hold the colony together; no one else has the loyalty of so many. If you fell in battle leading a raid, the colony would collapse. We need you here. And we need you leading the defence. Your voice summons legions; how many would come if you called for a militia to defend our world? So many more than came to my call. I know you want to attack, but we've built something that's worth fighting for here. And no one could do it better than you."

She looks at me, an I see I'vegotten through to her. "I understand Odoos. Forgive me."

 

[CBR JGWRR]

So, I've been looking at MSI's gameplay mechanics. In particular, I've noticed they start with vision over the homeworlds of the Payback and Broken Shackles origin states, and of pre-FTL pops on their worlds. This is obviously bad news.

Something else that is interesting is who the Olinbar are.

Specifically, they use the SPQR namelist.

Theorising it might have been randomised and just happened to pick it, I've done a few started games to check that, and every single one uses that name list.

Now, there are options for what that means. I can think of several:

1. They could have been an alien culture inspired by Rome.

2. They could be utilising it as some kind of intimidation tactic when dealing with Humans, in or out of universe.

3. They were once Humans from Rome, but were taken, and extensively modified (well within what the game allows, as Genetic Ascension allows portrait changing) to become what they are today.

4. Someone at Paradox thought it would be funny to see what kind of fan theories get developed once it is noticed.

5. It is just part of the decadent aesthetic they have going on.

6. It's a mod conflict somewhere.

Obviously, this setting in particular invokes these changes being possible; I've already alluded to Naomi advocating Genetic Ascension for this reason. As a result, it makes sense to roll with option 3 for narrative purposes.

There's still plenty of permutations to iterate, but it is interesting.

 

[CBR JGWRR]

"High Queen"
9th Daas, 5 (2182)
Naomi Of Unity​

I look at Buri's third in command. "Tavi, I need to run a few things by you. What exactly are the requirements to be formally High Queen of the Xenaya?"

She looks at me with the expression Buri uses when he thinks something is both obvious and not as complicated as I make it. "You are High Queen."

"What makes me High Queen? Why is Buri only a WarChief?"

"Buri is WarChief. He says you are his High Queen, so you are our High Queen."

"Help me understand."

"On the ship, we held trials to be WarChief. Buri won, so he leads our group. You lead Buri."

"So, it's a military role?"

"It's a uniter role, one who leads the WarChiefs. Naomi, you know us Xenayans are a simple people. We are not like you; our population has never been big enough to need the leadership structures that you think in terms of. Maybe in time we will become that when we settle and form the agricultural stages like all the others have formed. But right now, it is enough for us to know that Buri leads us, and you lead Buri. We respect you. You have proven yourself to us, although not by the trial that we've normally used."

"What does the trial consist of?"

"Battle to yielding. It's how we have done it since time immemorial. But we are wondering if it is the right way; after all, you would never win on such a system."

I laugh nervously; I've seen Buri fight off some of the predators around the colony. "At least not against Xenayans."

"Yet, we all have much better lives for your leadership. My war-brother is many things, but he is not you. He wouldn't know how to integrate the technologies the way you do, so that they complement our way of life instead of replace it. You however, rejected the way of life of your people to become one of us, and you stand with me, as a war-sister. I do have one question though, because There are so many similarities between Humans and the Minamar. You obviously are very different, but other Humans aren't so. We trust you, but we do not trust all of your kind. I find myself wondering what motivates my Queen. Why do you give, when the others take? When MSI takes?"

"My motivation is Buri. I love him in a way I've never loved anyone. You guys know my story; there was so much anger bottled up inside me. But Buri turned me from the rage inside me, and gave me more, gave me a new goal in life. My own race... Honestly, all my life other Humans have been competition. It's only now that I'm getting used to not having to view them as minor opponents."

She pauses. "Humans are unpredictable."

I laugh. Then nod. "We can be. We are aware of rationality of course, but our conscious decision making is rarely rational."

"Would you rather be Human, or Xenayan?"

I think about Buri. "Xenayan body. But with a Human mind would be best, I think."

"You would make a good Xenayan."

"Are you just complimenting me?"

"I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it."

"Thanks, sister." Tavi laughs. I contemplate momentarily that once I would have found the sight terrifying - a sabre-toothed ox-lion-gorilla like beast shrieking at the sky conveys something extremely different to what it is meant to convey - but being a wife to one of them, and having spent so much time with them, I sometimes understand them almost as well as Humans.

"Oh Naomi, as far as any of us are concerned, you are one of us. Just pocket-sized."

"Being serious for a moment, if the role of High Queen is still undecided, would I be allowed to define the role?"

"What makes you think you aren't?"

"I'm not really Xenayan."

"Do you think we care about that? Buri makes you one of us. Rivkah makes you one of us. You make you one of us. And if we ignore these, I say you are one of us. And so would the rest of them. You adopted us, and we adopt you."

I feel a tear fall from my eye. I have an idea. "Tavi, how would I say 'pleasant' in your dialect of Xenayan?"

She thinks it over. "As a personal name, I'm guessing?"

"Yes. It's what my name means."

"It's tricky. There's two major Xenayan languages, the colloquial - which you can't vocalise without a synthesiser, or do most of the associated body language - and a formal language that we use for writing, but has a much lower vocabulary because our lifestyles don't exactly need that much writing, and mainly gets used for territorial treaties. The first has a suitable equivalent to pleasant, but the second doesn't; it's closest word is more like 'acceptable'. Thirdly, your name is practically a Xenayan name anyway."

"What? Really?"

"Because we don't really use writing much, we pick three letters, then add an 'i' to denote it is a personal name. Naomi is almost Xenayan. It's part of why no one minded you calling Rivkah as Rivkah; we figured it would be a name of meaning to you, perhaps an ancestor."

"Beats a few letters I suppose."

"To us, a name is a reference to a person, and the person is more important. We don't think about the name as such, but we do think about who they are. Rivkah is the name of an ancestor, right?"

I think back to my youth, when Mum and Dad had talked about Yitzchak and Rivkah. "A very ancient ancestor, a mother of her people. In her time, Humans were only a little more advanced in technology level than Xenayans; she lived a nomadic life, traveling across the land."

"Perhaps our Rivkah will be the same to our people."

"She will be. I have to inspire her."

---

Edited Note, 27/09/2023: Originally, this was a mix-up where I confused Tavi and Vaki's names. I've decided the easiest solution is have them be different people.

 

[CBR JGWRR]

"Starlight"
11th Daas, 5 (2182)
Naomi Of Unity​

I lay awake listening to my husband's breathing. Watch the way his chest rises and falls. Not much else to do when I can't sleep, but it is nice to rest with his arm as my pillow. I nuzzle him gently, nose to nose as is the Xenayan way for spouses. He stirs; his eyes glow red as they pick up the starlight. His arms reaches around my hips, and pulls me closer.

"You're awake." He uses his free arm to caress my back. "What's troubling you?"

I stroked his horns. "Wishing I had a Xenayan body."

"For me?"

I nuzzle him, before pulling away, looking elsewhere. "I feel like an impostor, being Human."

Buri runs a hand along my body, stroking me from my thigh up, then across to my spine. "When I first saw you like this, you were shaved from the neck down to your toes. Now though, you are far more attractive."

I smile back, running a hand in his fur, mimicking him. "But it's not as much as you."

He nuzzles me. "It's as much as your genetics allow, and I appreciate that." He lets it stay, then nuzzles me again. "You aren't an impostor."

As he pulls me close, I think about my dark skin, and his whitish-yellow fur. "I'm struggling with feeling like I am."

He lays me on my back. "Feel the grass beneath your skin."

"I do."

"Do humans sleep like that?"

"No. Not normally." I look up at the night sky behind him. "Normally we have shelters."

He carries me as he stands up, placing me in front of him, before bending down to hold my hips so that they we are at the same level. "We Xenayan do." He looks up at the stars, and I follow his gaze. "Do you sleep by their light?"

"No, we live in buildings."

"We Xenayan do." He nuzzles me. "Do Humans do that?"

"No. We would kiss instead, but my lips can't reach yours with your sabres out."

"Naomi, you have come to us, done your best to be like us, to live with us. You came without judging our ways, without the arrogance that characterises us as savage beasts like so many of the others do. You only want to understand and respect our ways. You embrace us, even marrying one of us and raising one of our children with him. How can we not respect such love for us?" He picked her up, and stood to full height. "You're Xenayan enough for me, wife Naomi."

"Thank you, husband Buri."

He lays me down on my back, nestling my head in his elbow. "Come, fall asleep with your Buri."

I smile, and wrap myself around him as best I can. "I will."

 

[CBR JGWRR]

"On Teeth And Claws"
17th Daas, 5 (2182)
Naomi Of Unity​

I stalk through the barren crags where Tori b'Cavra was killed. Something that I've been turning over in my mind is the role of High Queen of the Xenaya, and what it should be as they develop. And one of my conclusions is the principle that the High Queen/High King should be a defender of the people; a matter of personal bravery. So here I am, blade in hand again, searching for the monster that killed my daughter's biological father.

It was tricky; staying upwind is hard as the currents change, and because I still feel like this is a matter of proving myself and setting an example, it would be up to me. My stomach grumbled; Xenayan's can go for weeks if necessary between kills, but after three days walking with very little forage I am really starting to feel it.

Early morning of day four, there is progress; fresh tracks laid beside a puddle formed in overnight rains. I take the water, drinking from the puddle through a biotoxin filter - tastes bad, but at least it makes the water safe - and follow the not yet dry tracks. The beast walked quadrupedally, roughly two metre long strides. They led up to a clifftop, and end.

The view of the landscape was amazing. The wind was very strong here, a steady updraft. Logically, it must have jumped. Unity was slightly lower gravity than Earth... If it had big enough wings perhaps? Maybe enough to soar, although flapping flight would be too much energy use. I look up, across the skies. No small flyers in view, which could be consistent with being scared off.

A cave entrance behind a different precipice at a slightly lower level catches my eye; bones are strewn around the entrance, which is probably a tell-tale. I press on to the cave - being surprised while out in the open by an airborne opponent wouldn't end well. There are bones, including a sunbleached Xenayan skull among them. I force myself to focus, and enter the cave. Sunlight soon rus out through the twists - wish I had Xenayan eyesight while fumbling around my pack for infrared googles - and I delve deeper. Soon the cave opens up into a large chamber, where other water flows drip through.

There it is.

The pale yellow eyes stare back at me.

It's breathing is shallow.

The creature - a long-necked reptilian flying squirrel scaled up to twice the size of a man, vast folds of skin between it's forearms and hindlegs - was nursing a broken leg. Suddenly I feel pity.

My options; I could take advantage of it's weakness, or treat it and hopefully make a friend. I decide on the latter.

It seemed to understand; taking a medical kit from my bag, I slowly approach. It adjusts it's position to make the task easier, and I set to work, washing the wound before bandaging and splinting the leg.

Then I see the Synthesiser. It looks at me.

Would the translation matrix be able to figure it out? I think it through. They were among the most advanced pieces of kit MSI let slaves have after all, reputedly telepathic even, although I am not entirely sure.

I talk to it. "Can you understand me?"

The reptile made it's own noises. Is that not enough of a sample, or the Synthesiser not working, or... Well, it had recognised it was being addressed though. It looks down at the Synthesiser, and I pick it up; out of battery charge. Easily fixed.

"Can you understand me?"

The reptile spoke. "I can now. You smell like the one from before, but look very different."

"My mate is a member of his people. I raise his daughter as my own."

"Yet you treat me?"

"To him, you were a predator preying on him and his mate, who had their child. I came here to kill you, but I took pity once I found you."

"Thank you. I'm sorry he is dead now that I understand why he fought." The beast carefully moved, revealing it's nest. "We were doing the same."

Naomi saw an opportunity. "I lead the colony that we come from-" Not quite true, but a close enough approximation; "-and we can help you, if you wish."

"What would you offer?"

"Food, primarily. We wouldn't want you predating on our farms; it would be better to come to a mutually beneficial relationship."

"What would you want help with?"

"We come from many different worlds; our enemies enslaved us, and we fought for our freedom, and the ship crashed on this world. We are rebuilding a new life for ourselves here. You come from here, and we would appreciate the knowledge you have."

"Food in exchange for knowledge, and if necessary, fighting by your side."

"Hopefully not the latter."

"I promise to consider it, when I am well, and will come and find your colony when I have decided. But you may go in peace, for I do not want to fight you."

I smile, turn away.

It calls to me. "How far do you have to travel?"

"I spent four days tracking you on foot."

He looks at my legs. Working out how far I traveled? "I will fly you, as far as I can bear you, in repayment for the treatment."

I smlie. "That would be appreciated."

 

[CBR JGWRR]

"The Hands Of A Queen"
17th Daas, 5 (2182)
Buri Of Unity​

I sweep Her off Her feet. "Four days without you has been agony."

She nods as we nuzzle. "I felt so cold without you." She snuggles up to me, wrapping Herself in my fur.

"That looked like the monster that killed Tori."

"It was." She looks worried. "Are you upset?"

I pull Her closer, inhale Her fragrance. "Inside, I knew he would live. You are a lover of all that grows, and I knew you would make peace. I wasn't expecting you to fly back on him though."

"Are you disappointed?"

"On one side, I'm sad that Tori wasn't avenged. But on the other, he would have preferred it like this, that somehow we had made friends. That good came from it, in the end." I let go of Her, then take Her hands, looking into Her eyes. "I know you stress about the blood on these hands. You fear yourself a killer, fear the rage within. But you're not. In a world filled with violence, you are love. You grieve your enemies the way you grieve your friends."

She closes Her eyes. "I still see the Minamar I killed. I still see the captain recoiling until he hits the wall and knows there's no way out. The young man in the armoury, stifling his scream as I cut his throat..."

I nuzzle Her. "This is who you are, Naomi." I wipe a tear from Her eye. "The woman who weeps for the people she's fought. I know we talked about the crown made from the teeth of the monster, but that isn't you. The right crown for you is a crown of flowers."

She looks at me. "Would I still be Xenayan enough?"

"Perhaps what is best for us, is how you are."

"The hands of a king are the hands of a healer."

"It would be a better world for that."

She puts Her arms around me, and I pull Her closer. "My Buri."

"You are a queen of life, my wife."

 

[CBR JGWRR]

"Return"
1st Shendredie, 5 (2182)
Buri Of Unity​

I watch Her leave our home. On Her head is a circlet of greenery – She talked to me about aeroponics making the plants grow, but I don't really understand how plants grow without soil – while polished scales sparkle in the light atop the white of Her former wedding garment, a billowing silk web floating from Her shoulders. She twirls for me.

"How do I look?"

I kneel. "You look like a queen."

"Good."

I walk to Her, and nuzzle Her hand. "I'm glad you are embracing your destiny. You are a High Queen."

"Today, I return to the Council."

"You should lead them."

She smiles a look that tells me that She already does. "Look after Rivkah for me." She nuzzles me. "I love you."

---

Monica​

I look at her. She's well and truly gone native during her year out. "You look..."

She smiles. "Regal?"

I go tactful. "I was thinking tribal."

"The Xenayan like it."

I fold my arms. "At least I know you aren't seeking re-election."

"Nope. Not any more."

"So, what's the plan?"

"Well, obviously we now have two Humans on the Council. And because Odoos and I had a detailed conversation several weeks ago, and we've worked out a plan that should enable a solution to the defence question, and resolve the rising political strength in the Council of Rejoin MSI."

I nod. "About damn time. It'll be good to see Qutrok splutter."

---

As soon as Naomi and I are inside the chamber, Qutrok starts. "We can't possibly have two humans on this Council."

Naomi scowls. "I am here for the Xenayan."

"The Xenayan? But, but... They send Buri."

"The Xenayan have declared me their High Queen, and therefore, as their head of state I am taking the appropriate position. If anyone wants to challenge it, I will respond as Buri would."

A chill settles. After all, none of us would challenge Buri. He's a freaking monster.

I change the subject. "One of our most pressing concerns is what to do about the looming threat of MSI. Tensions are building, and unless we come to a workable agreement, could become a concern for public safety."

Qutrok interrupts. "The correct response is to reaccept vassalisation. If MSI come, we can't hope to beat them, it would be a folly to try. Our best chance of survival is to surrender."

Naomi yawns. Odoos replies. "How much are they paying you to say that, Qutrok?"

Qutrok glares at Naomi.

She smiles. Odoos continues. "Defence against MSI is possible. Naomi has ideas that will protect our world. All we need is to focus all our efforts on advancing our technologies to make them buildable."

Hoggagha spoke. "We should consider evacuation. All of us know that life under MSI is not life. But, equally, if MSI know we are here and decide to come for us, they will be able to make a move before we can protect ourselves. I counsel that our best option is to get ships constructed as soon as possible, and begin moving our people off world, or head underground like my people do. Then, we should spread out, seek alliances with others. MSI must have enemies, or if not, there must be others out there just as advanced who will object to their treatment of slaves."

Ykrett - the representative of one of the colony's two lithoid races - stirs. "Whatever we do, we must not allow the continued existence of Rejoin MSI. The raid on the comms relay is inexcusable. It is appalling that we still have not drowned the perpetrators."

Qutrok immediately denies it. "The raid was not carried out by Rejoin MSI."

Now Ykrett raises one of the crystal boulders he has for hands, pointed at him. "The problem you've got Qutrok, is no one believes you when you say that. I for one certainly don't."

Sor-Gor joins in too. "No one else would want the comms relay anyway, it is totally incompatible with the radio technologies we are using. Only someone wanting to contact MSI would have a use for it."

Naomi looks at Sor-Gor, sharply. "I'd be cautious about stating that so absolutely; there are other possible reasons why someone would want the comms relay."

Sor-Gor focuses his compound eyes on her. "Please, explain."

"It's entirely possible that the raid was carried out by someone seeking to get Rejoin MSI stamped on."

Ykrett rumbled happily. "That would be good, would it not?"

Naomi sways her head. "The question is why do they want them stamped on."

Ykrett growled. "They're a menace."

"They are also a single opponent; once crushed, dissent against us would factionalise further, making keeping the colony secure harder. It would also drive hardline Rejoiners underground. Someone wishing to work against us could easily find reasons to take out Rejoin MSI."

Ykrett covered his chest. "Why Naomi, you sound like you are defending them."

"I'm not. But I would prefer to only have to keep track of one dissident faction."

Hoggagha focused back on the more important thing. "What we should absolutely do is develop our technology base. With ships of our own, we could return to our homeworlds, bringing with us Naomi's ideas. We could protect our homes."

"And others too, somehow I doubt even MSI has found every inhabited homeworld."

"Perhaps we should do uplifting ourselves. I know I'd pick us over MSI if I had a choice of uplifter."

Murmurs of consent surge around the table; Naomi makes a note of the idea for later. Odoos speaks. "It seems we are reaching a consensus that developing our technological base is a priority. The question is, what to do right now about defending ourselves?"

"It's obvious, we can't..." Qutrok starts to answer, before Naomi interrupts him.

"Qutrok, I am sorry that your people were so brutally victimised by MSI. But this time around you've got the dangerous folk on your side. I will not allow this Council to talk of defeat when we are here because we fought them and we won."

"Naomi. Suppose that MSI return tonight. What exactly would you have this colony do?"

She stabs the blood-stained blade into the table. Silence falls. "I will fight for my husband. For my daughter. For my people. For the world we have built. I say that what we have achieved here matters. We Humans know a lot about slavery, it's one of the oldest forms of social structure on Old Earth. And what we learned most of all is that the price of liberty is eternal vigilance. I can see the merit of flying away; but where does the line get drawn? They know where we came from. All of us. We cannot go back; divided, they conquer. The line must be drawn here; this far, no further. Here we can make our stand. United." She pauses. "I know you guys think I am crazy, wearing this outfit. But I love my Buri. I love him with all my heart. I would die for him." She pauses again. "But more importantly, I would kill for him." One last pause. Just for effect. One quotation. "If this be the end, then I will rage towards it."

Silence hangs.

Ykrett stands. "Hear, hear!"

Qutrok looks at her. It's a new expression on his face. One he hasn't worn in a very long time. "Do you honestly believe we can win? Truly believe it?"

She picks up the blade, dancing it through her fingers, smiling like an ancient goddess of war in her laurel crown. "No matter what happens, I love you all."

 

[CBR JGWRR]

"Battle Plan"
2nd Shendredie, 5 (2182)
Naomi Of Unity​

Qutrok sits down beside me. "I've decided to abolish Rejoin MSI."

"Oh?"

"But I do have a condition."

"What it is it?"

"Naomi, you are Human and Xenayan. You are a warrior, a soldier, a predator. My people are none of those things. If I am to tell my people that we are going to war, to fire and death, I have to tell them exactly what is the plan. And why you believe it will work."

"You know my past."

"You were a prostitute."

"Yes. And it hurts. I have been treated like a toilet by thousands of Minamar, Qutrok. Thousands. Thousands who treated me like... Like..." Breathe. Control. Focus. Breathe. "They used me in two brothels. One was among the high leaders and dignitaries, the other on the docks of a shipyard. And while they were abusing my body, my mind was extracting all sorts of information from them as they let their guard down. Some true, some lies. Confirmed by memorising the MSI ship captain's guidance manual."

"I need to know how you got that manual."

"The ship captain of our slave ship was in dire straits fiscally, verging on bankruptcy if the slave ship venture failed. He was very stressed. And when a woman offered him comfort, relief, care, interest, and sexual pleasures, he couldn't help himself. And over time, I got him to tell me, and show me, things he was not supposed to reveal."

"And then killed him."

I hesitate a little. "While in a moment of intimacy, yes."

"You cold-hearted tlazsdaka."

His voice is shocked. I tap my synthesiser. "That last word didn't translate." Hmm. "On second thought, maybe I'm better off not knowing."

He cocked his head. "How did he die, exactly?"

I hesitate again. After all, Qutrok is a man... "Where do you think a prostitute strikes when she wants to kill a man?"

Qutrok looks at me, his feathers ruffling. "Forget I asked."

"Done. The point is, I know exactly how they will fight us. They will not drop soldiers down onto our world - they will send a Flagship and bombard us from orbit."

"So how can we fight back? I need the details, otherwise my people will not go along with it. They aren't impressed by oratory, we've been deceived by oratory before."

"There's numerous flaws in MSI's methodologies that enable a first-strike attack composed of missiles with highly trained infiltrators on board instead of warheads to successfully board capture the Flagship."

"You want to turn a space battle we can't win, into a ground battle we can win?"

"Precisely."

"How?"

"Do you know why I have vetoed every proposal to use the recovered shuttles from the ship?"

Qutrok thinks it through. "You're proposing to use them to lift men and materiel into space."

"Men and manufacturing capacity, not men and materiel. But essentially yes."

"But you had to wait until we would all go along with it."

"Yes. The shuttles are single stage to orbit capable; nothing else we have is. Building the infrastructure to make our own rockets is something we are only working on so far. We use the shuttles to send people, mining and manufacturing equipment up to our world's asteroidal ring, then build the missiles there."

"That sounds workable. How do you know it will succeed?"

"Imagine that this big fruit is our planet, these nuts are the various orbiting rocks around our world, and this fork is the enemy flagship. That they will send a Flagship is the key. In a ship to ship combat military role, they are immense artillery and hangar craft platforms. They are not intended to engage themselves, but to fight at extremely long range by strikecraft, with the guns blasting anything that gets too close. Corvettes and Destroyers are used to screen for missiles. However, that is only a secondary purpose of a MSI Flagship. Militarily, the main purpose is to intimidate pre-FTLs into surrender, and obliterate them from orbit if not. Now, bombarding through atmosphere isn't easy; energy weapons get diffracted while kinetics are slowed by friction and burn up. Which means the Flagship comes close. Like, clearly distinguishable from the planet below close."

Qutrok watches me move the fork inside the ring of nuts. "And too close to avoid missiles that are launched from asteroids in a ring."

"And it is also trivially easy to hide laser point defence weapons inside asteroids; generate the laser in the asteroids core while streaming the beam using mirrors out to turrets on the surface."

"Which means we can defeat the Flagship and the strikecraft."

"We're looking to capture it, not destroy it don't forget. We need it. I'm envisioning a three race attack strategy in boarding. Xenayan, Lokra-Kitan and Humans. I and Buri will lead the first wave, composed of Xenayans. Our job is to breach and sweep. We will fight our way to gravity control, and take it offline. Our Lokra-Kitan friends have extremely good spatial sense, and they can fly as well in zero gravity as they can in normal planetary gravities, while the Minamar will be floundering trying to figure out how to move; MSI doesn't train for zero gravity operations. Humans will follow and start taking over the ship's systems from Minamar control."

"Are you absolutely sure that boarding will work? Surely they will have soldiers aboard."

"Keep in mind that MSI are corporate slicks. They aren't soldiers. It costs them money and resources to train soldiers and have them on board ships. Ships which generally fight at extremely far distances; fighting can take place as far out as light-minutes away for launching strikecraft, while ship weapons fire at light-seconds away."

"How far is a light-second?"

I do the maths quickly. "Roughly 25 times the diameter of our world."

Qutrok's eyes go wide. "Very far."

"Yes. So out in the wider galaxy, there's almost never a case to have boarding trained soldiers. Never close enough to deploy them."

"But our circumstances just happen to line up."

"Exactly. Plus, being a Flagship, it will not have an experienced starship captain in command."

"Why not?"

"MSI shareholders like to have the prestige of leading Flagship missions. In their experience, colonies like ours break down badly - it's why they mix us up with other races, to try and make us factionalise and turn on each other. The shareholders bid for the prestige and reputation enhancement of being seen to deliver aid to former rebels who have decided to abandon rebellion and accept the mercy of MSI."

"They want the propaganda. The scheming little rats. Which indirectly answers why they won't send warships first I suppose."

"Yes, and why they will wait several years, maybe decades, before coming; they were once a media conglomerate, a very long time ago, and they still always keep an eye on public perception. But also, there's no need to send warships."

"The chances of a pre-FTL race managing to beat a Flagship are that remote. How would a non-unified, pre-spaceflight civilisation beat them?"

"Theoretically, you could use artillery, but sufficiently high velocity artillery would generally be gun-rocket hybrids to be sufficiently weaponiseable. The point I'm making is that they're arrogant and decadent. They won't see us as a threat. We will face someone who has likely never been in combat before, who's entire military knowledge is speed-reading the handbook, not realising he's facing someone who already memorised it."

"I do have one last question. What happens if they decide to go straight to planetary bombardment with the fleet?"

"Well, in the best case, we would capture ships by the same method as they too come close in to bombard us; in some ways, it would be easier. Flagships do have dedicated guards on board, but warships don't. Once we are on board, they will face the prospect of their formations falling into disarray, and because they are running by the book, and the book has no plan for what to do if your ships get boarded as it isn't a scenario that takes place, we can still defend ourselves. In the worst case of them sweeping away our weapons platforms with overwhelming force, we will lose."

"What can we do to prevent the latter?"

"The more weapons platforms we have in orbit, the better our chances. Our technology won't be as good, so we need huge numbers to win an attrition based slugging it out battle."

"Ok, let's say we win. We capture the flagship, fix the holes we drill to get in or fix the airlocks or however we punch through the hull. How can we stop MSI turning up in full force?"

"We have to keep changing the paradigm. Keep them off balance."

"How?"

"An individual rebellion that chooses to defend a single location, is easily crushed. The key advantage of a rebellion is that you can be mobile, and force your enemy to defend everywhere. We can no longer do that."

"Which is very bad for us."

"Yes. But what if they aren't facing one rebellion?"

Suddenly it clicks for him. "The soldiers you've been training. They aren't to defend our world at all, are they?"

She smiled. "Imagine the beautiful chaos a thousand people, trained to do anything I can do, would unleash."

Qutrok looks at me as he thinks it over. "You are completely mad. And the worst part is, you make sense."

"Qutrok, your issue is you have a prey mindset. You're thinking 'Oh no, I'm stuck in a room with MSI.' Me however, I'm not."

"You are thinking 'Oh yes, they are stuck in a room with me.'"

I smile, and hold his wing. "I refuse to be prey."

Qutrok trembles. "What... what kind of... demon are you?"

"I'm not a demon. Just a good woman, who has to do a lot of bad things."

 

[CBR JGWRR]

"Family"
Earthdate: July 6th, 2160
Atalyah HaMaadimi​

The sound of the alarms blares through. The sum of possibilities blaze through my mind, converging on a single path. I turn to my son amid the huddling ex-slaves. "Thando."

"Yes Mum?"

"Take care of them. There's one final door, already unlocked, then you are outside. Free. But they are onto us. I will create a distraction." I hug him one last time, before looking each of them in the eyes. "No matter what happens, I love you all." She turns to reopen the airlock back inside. "Don't look back. Run."

Thando opens the door; the others join him as they sprint into this planet's winter, while I, the last daughter of Tipheret HaMaadimi's parthenogenic genetic tweaking, kick down my own door. Naturally, it breaks beneath my enhanced body's muscles and bones, steel shattered like glass. I enter the mind's eye. Perfect memory recall and enhanced senses and reactions build a picture of where her enemies are faster than eyesight alone, her pistol shrieking as streaks of glowing iron flash at each target. Room clear.

She leaps, vaulting across the room in a single bound. The next door puts up even less resistance as her body smashes home, and security personnel flee for cover; one man is too slow, and gets his stun-baton hand trapped in her vice-like grip. Suddenly he is looking at his chest, unable to feel anything beneath his neck as blood-covered prongs punch through from his back. Trained marksmen try to lead the target, but her movement is faster than anything they trained against; another corridor falls.

The next door opens with a volley of sizzling rounds and flashes, all aimed uselessly as she tosses out liberated stun grenades. The noise and flash ignored by her rapid responses shutting out the stimuli before they can be registered, and Minamar are screaming as she tears through them before their eyes and ears recover, a piece of steel bar swung hard enough to crush bone flings the mere mortals aside; what scant injuries she does take sealed by medical nanorobotics.

Another atrium, another corridor.

Both laid waste.

The intercom flickers into life. "Atalyah HaMaadimi, we have your daughter. Lay down your weapons and she will be spared."

Her blazing eyes fix on a security monitor. The emotion overwhelms my defences, and I return to the surface of the mind. A visored man holds a rifle behind my daughter Naomi's head. Dozens of scared Olinbar guards file into the small corridor around me. Half a dozen plans surge through my mind as I calculate vectors, wondering if I can make them take themselves out.

"We repeat - Atalyah HaMaadimi, we have your daughter. Lay down your weapons, and she will be spared."

I run the analysis. My battle is over.

My daughter's is not.​

 

[CBR JGWRR]

"Qutrok"
2nd Shendredie, Nightfall, 5 (2182)
Naomi Of Unity​

Monica bursts into my waiting room. “Qutrok is dead.”

Well, this calls for a colourful metaphor. “Dead? What? How?”

“When he went to dissolve the Rejoin MSI faction, they formed a mob, and hacked his head off. They're coming here.” She paces frantically. “I don't know what to do... Please tell me there's some master scheme you have planned here, our wise chessmaster?”

Damn. “All my schemes relied on the assumption of his existence.”

“Any plan Bs?”

“None. Well, none applicable. Qutrok was a stable, calming influence, loved by all his people. Why on earth would I assume he might be taken out? I have contingencies for some of us, but not Qutrok.” I pause. Begin working out interception times, how long until they arrive... “How far away and how numerous is the mob?”

“They are marching down Flavius' End, hundreds at least.”

“North or south?”

“Heading south.”

I work it out. “At typical walking speed, we have less than ten minutes.” I have a plan. I stand. “Where's Buri?”

“Waiting with the Council.”

“Let's move.”

Monica follows me out the room. “Do we have a plan?”

“I need my husband to help me out of my dress.”

“Naomi, you do have a plan?”

“I'm working on it.”

As they got to the Council chamber, Ykrett was speaking. “...foul Qutrok, this mob is an absolute-”

I don't have time to open the door; I barge it. “Qutrok is dead.” The lithoid silences himself as I recovered my blade and pistol. “The mob is coming here. I am going to try to negotiate with them. Buri, help undress me.”

He looks at me like I'm... Distracted. “What? Now? I mean...”

I shake my head. “I don't want to get their blood on my High Queen dress.”

Ykrett rumbles happily. “Their blood. I like that.”

Buri looks at me, somewhat relieved. “I can summon the Xenaya in the city.”

“I don't want a bloodbath, their fear alone is enough to win. I want peace.” I nuzzle him as he undresses me, then I pass the garments to him. “If I fall, give these to Rivkah.”

---

I intercept the crowd on the street. “Peaceful protest is allowed. Get violent, and I will crush the perpetrators. Those responsible will hand themselves over for the murder of Qutrok.”

The mob – I can't see any proper weapons – stop walking. They aren't exactly expecting me to meet them. Some of the agitators call out. “There she is! Get her!”

A few start to advance. I draw the pistol I took from Hortensus. “The first twenty five of you to move will die.”

The agitators – hiding inside the mob, naturally – cry out. “Come on, she can't kill us all!”

I smile my... somewhat demented smile. The smile of one with nothing to lose, drawing the blade in my other hand. The mob begin to waver. “Let's look at some facts, shall we? You are an unarmed, uncoordinated mob. Not even smart enough to realise you should have divided your approach to force me to split my backup forces. Your sole advantage over me is numbers. But I am a disciplined athlete, an accurate shot, and the least encumbered by clothes. I outgun you, I can outrun you, and if you do manage to get in range of my blade, I can kill you. Now sure, you might eventually get me; but I bet I can take fifty of you before any of you touch me.”

I let the words sink in, as my allies began to make themselves visible. “What's more, if you do touch me, the Xenaya in the city will hunt you down and eat you. My mercy alone is why you are not being torn to shreds as it is.”

The mob began to form a circle, realising they are surrounded by red eyes in the darkness. The agitators began to try to rouse the crowd, but no one pays them any attention.

“I repeat. Peaceful protest is allowed. Me and my people are not going to attack first, if you want to make your case politely, you may. If you don't have a case to make, then present the killers of Qutrok, and they will face due process of law.”

The crowd handed over the agitators, promptly bound by the Xenaya, and dispersed back to their homes. I prowl around the captives. "I'm going to make this clear. Between you, you are responsible for murder, riot and attempted revolution. Even worse, you failed." I scowl at them. "Do you know what the punishment would be back in MSI territory?"

"We'd get crucified."

"Fortunately for you, we have trial by jury. Unfortunately for you, there are hundreds of witnesses, as well as recordings, that tell about the death of Qutrok. We will hold trial tomorrow morning." I look to my people, the Xenaya. "Please guard them for tonight. If they try to escape, hunt them down."

The agitators looked at each other. "You don't mean..."

"Surely she can't..."

The Xenaya look to me, then show off their sabres and horns. The terrified agitators whimper quietly. I walk away, thinking about Qutrok.

 

[CBR JGWRR]

"Qutrok, part 2"
4th Shendredie, 5 (2182)
Tryykad​

I look at the funeral preparations for my father. Qutrok is laid in an open casket, on his funeral pyre. We Kyasese believe in open air cremation, allowing the ash to return to the sky and fly free one last time, symbolic of how the spirit flies free. I think about my mother, the Minamar had denied her that last flight. He had never known the Infinite Wheel, but Qutrok had; the constant vying of nation-states had led Qutrok to seek peace, and led to him being selected to lead here on Unity. And he had trained me to replace him over the years. As the eldest son, it would fall to me to light the pyre, and send him on his way.

I take the lit branch, and to the chorus of the Kyaese around me I chant the supplication of release, before lighting the pyre.

And I weep.

The emotion of it all is overwhelming.

It shouldn't be like this...

Murder.

My father... Murdered.

Only because Naomi had made him believe that victory was possible...

Some victory.

I want to seethe, want to cry, want to rage... I decide to find her. It isn't difficult, she has come to the funeral, stood at the edge. Guilt maybe?

I fly at her. Her cheeks were wet. "Why did you have my father killed?"

"I wanted your father to live."

"I don't believe you. You're an orator, you would say anything. You shouldn't even be here."

"Tryykad, I came because he was a friend. I know we were often at opposites in the Council, but he was a good leader who cared about his people above all, and he was a conscience, a balance, that helped us more wrathful types. I would never have wanted him dead, and all my plans assumed his existence. I know you won't trust my words, so look at my actions; do you really think it would have taken me three years to get rid of him if I didn't want him leading your people?"

"Probably not."

"Besides, imagine how much more of a problem Rejoin MSI would be for me if it had been someone else leading."

"True, he was a moderate. Too much of one."

"I'm not your enemy."

"I will be the judge of that." I back away from her warily; I may be wrathful, but Naomi is bigger and stronger. My father trusted her, but I know something is off with her. "Tell me, Naomi. My father trusted you in the end. Enough he died for what you told him yesterday. I'll give you a chance to explain what you told him to me. And I'll be fair - I will meet you at a time that suits you so that you can give your best presentation."

"Shall we say next week? I know you are busy right now."

"First day then."

"Afternoon is best for me, Council meetings in the morning."

"Just remember - I want facts. Evidence. Proof. If you try rhetoric, then I'll never listen to you again." I turn, and fly back to my family.

 

[CBR JGWRR]

"Qutrok, Part 3"
5th Shendredie, 5 (2182)
Tryykad​

I look at the images on the display. Blueprints. Astronavigation data. Artist renders and plain text articles. Training procedures and combat protocols. To be fair to her, she has been busy.

"You wanted data. Here's data."

"What am I looking at?"

"The beginnings of a documentation of my art of war."

"Qutrok explained up to the taking the Flagship part. But that only provokes the beast that is MSI."

"Following the Flagship is a quadruple layer offensive strategy that relies on lighting rebellious sentiment across MSI territory, false flag attacks with liberated equipment, rapid assault of key MSI assets and diplomatic warfare."

Your thousand revolutionaries conducting the first two, leading the Flagship on the third, and presumably trying to find friendly to us aliens in the fourth."

"Precisely."

How do you propose to use one ship to attack MSI?"

"On my world, there was a conqueror named Ghengis Khan. He conquered incredibly vast regions by following a systematic approach of obliterating the first few cities he came too, and then using the fearsome reputation to convince others to surrender without a fight."

"You'd kill billions?"

"Yes."

"You are many things Naomi, but you are not a mass-murderer."

"What makes you so sure?"

"You're too merciful."

"You don't know what I'm capable of."

"You're a whore with delusions of adequacy."

Naomi folds her arms. "Ex-whore."

"Yes, yes, yes, you killed the last person to hire you, whatever."

"How many Minamar have you killed?"

"None."

"Tryykad, what would you accept? Or did you only come to attack me over what I had to do as a slave?"

That makes me stop, and think. "I want my father back."

"I can't return him to you. And insulting me won't help."

I hate her. And I hate that she's right. "You're right."

"What I can offer is a way to take down the people who made things the way they are."

"My father told me about the space plans. But they didn't mention us. What would you have us Kyaese do?"

"In my view? Anyone who wants to fight is welcome. Or if not, the logistics to carry out my schemes are immense. What do you want to do?"

"I want revenge."

"How do you want to take it?"

"The trouble is, us Kyaese aren't dangerous like you are, or the Xenaya. We're small. Weak. And honestly, scared."

"And extremely mobile." She puts the pistol in my claws. "On my world, there's a saying. God made man; Samuel Colt made man equal. That's a combustion reaction firearm; lightweight, cheap to produce, can be made to fire in single shot, semi-automatic or automatic modes. And that you guys can fly means that you might be small, but you can deliver a damn big punch."

"How big a punch?"

"I can put a rocket launcher into a harness that your people could wear; point yourselves at the enemy, dive bomb, and give them an express ticket to hell."

"Sounds dangerous."

"Perhaps. But devastatingly effective."

"Some of my people are going to want safer roles."

"These weapons can be made into long distance snipers; you could fight from so far away they can't even see who is shooting. And if you want armour, then we can put you in armoured fighting vehicles; being so small is a huge advantage for those."

"Are you sure you'd fight beside me?"

She points at the gun. "Who put that in your hand?"

"You did."

"If I was your enemy, would I give you a gun and sit at point blank range?"

"No."

"You've seen the data; if I thought you were an enemy, would I show it to you?"

"That would be ridiculously stupid."

"So, you in?"

I think about it. "I don't want to die."

She smiles. "Permission to monologue?"

I laugh. "Is it some speech about rage, breaking the shackles and spewing fire and death on the enemy?"

"Of course."

"Just this once."

"MSI made us give, made us bow. But not anymore. Now? Now, we take."

 

[CBR JGWRR]

"Schooling"
1st Naomi, 6 (2183)
Rivkah Of Unity (Diary Entry)​

Mum started training me today - she's slowly getting used to just how much more capable I am than a Human my age. She thinks I'm like a seven year old, but it doesn't make much sense. They must be very slow growing up. Or maybe it's the brain training regime she has me do every day.

I never really appreciated just how much goes on in Mum's head until she started teaching me this fencing. My Dad is fairly simple; you point him at the prey, it goes down. My Mum though...

We had wooden sticks. Mum says you can learn everything you need to know about armed melee with wooden sticks.

I did start off wondering what the point of them was, until my Mum sliced through some steel armour plate with her wedding sabre. No way could Dad do that.

It's funny. I listen to my Mum's speeches, and you could be forgiven for thinking her battle style would be really mad and offensive. But she's not. She says that her Mum taught her to rely on her mind. To be calm.

She tried to blindfold me, make me learn to use what she called the mind's eye. She said her Mum could ignore flashbang grenades because of her ability to rely on it, holding a complete sensation of what and who is around you. She says I should manage even better because my senses are so much more powerful than hers.

At first it was really hard; my Mum didn't hold back. "In a real fight, they won't either". She made sure I learned how to hold my stick, she practiced disarming me until I could stop her. She taught me to listen for her breathing. I guess it's supposed to be harder for her.

I think I understand what she's trying to do - she wants to blend the best of Humans and the best of Xenaya into me.

 

[CBR JGWRR]

"A Constitutional Crisis"
2nd Naomi, 6 (2183)
Heinrich Aus Heinrichstadt ​

I interrupt her at work. "Monica, I would like a word with you."

"Heinrich, if this is just another resource request..."

"It's about our... Mutual problem."

Monica flattens her head on the table, knocking the empty cup over. She stares at it. "Urgh. Don't remind me."

I move beside her. "We should consider siding with the Takers Of Vengeance. It would do good for our ratings."

"The election is next week. Isn't Li running for the Takers anyway?"

"He's had an accident."

She looks at me. "Did you kill him?"

"No, certainly not. He tripped over his rake in the garden, broke a hip."

Her head thumped the table. "If only Odoos and Naomi hadn't agreed to this political party business."

"As I recall Naomi was one of the most stalwart against it."

"We needed the concession to get a concession we wanted." She drags her head up. "I miss the days when Naomi's word was law. Everything was easy then."

"We could join Buri."

"Buri won't run against Naomi's stated instruction."

"I was talking to him earlier, I think he is planning to."

"He knows Naomi wouldn't want the optics. He knows Naomi would simply make herself a throne if she wanted that kind of leadership."

"He also knows Naomi would do a better job. Look, the weaker we look, the stronger Buri's position gets. All the time the MDL is compromising because Odoos and Naomi think we can get consensus, Buri's tribe is gathering strength. If he decides to crown his wife queen..."

"He wouldn't."

"He would. The Xenaya have the biggest standing army of all the races."

"That's only because they are effectively a citizen militia."

"I said standing army."

Monica looks at me. The circles around her eyes looked even darker. "You aren't... Seriously..."

"He has been training Xenaya warriors."

"That's illegal. We all agreed not to have private racial militaries." Monica stood, and rubbed her forehead. "There's got to be another explanation. He wouldn't go against her."

"Maybe. Maybe not. Either way, we either make the Takers win the Council outright, or Buri is going to be a major headache."

Monica crashes back in the chair. "Oh democracy, how short a life you had."

"Think about it. I'm going back home."

 

[CBR JGWRR]

"A Constitutional Crisis, part 2"
2nd Naomi, 6 (2183)
Rivkah Of Unity​

I curl up in Mum's lap. She doesn't stir. I lick her. "Mum, wake up."

She slowly stirs. "Rivkah. Mum is..."

"Tired?"

"You have no idea."

"Wanna talk about it?"

"Do you remember the concept of the hypothetical scenario?"

I think about it. Dad never bothers with those, but Mum doesn't lift a finger without, like, a million of them. "Yes."

"Let's imagine you are the leader of your people, and one day, you find your dearly beloved husband is building an army behind your back. How do you respond?"

"Maybe I shouldn't have asked."

"Rivkah, in a few days, I'm sending you with Heinrich."

"Why?"

"I'm afraid of civil war. I don't want an enemy to try to capture you and try and barter your life for theirs against your father."

"Mum, is this really hypothetical?"

"I wish it was. I have to be there as I'm a candidate. Buri rejects democracy as a failure, and he is planning to turn up in force to crown me queen. What he doesn't know is Shendredie has been siphoning funds and resources away from my thousand revolutionaries, stockpiling firearms. I know he's doing it, but I can't prove it in a court, which means I can't do anything about it. Therefore, at sunset on the eighth, armed conflict will break out between Buri's forces and Shendredie's forces, and they will be overconfident; they know they can't afford to waste ammo training to use the weapons, but they also know even a Xenaya will go down to firearms. What neither of them know is that Ykrett, who owns the only armaments factory we have, has been having really hard difficulties getting the right grade of gunpowder, and none of his bullets are actually working. Naturally, he's keeping it very secret as it is extremely embarassing. Now can you imagine what's going to happen when Shendredie's men try to fire?"

"Dad is going to tear them to shreds."

"Yes. He will."

"Is it really a bad thing?"

"Rivkah, what happens if Shendredie dies?"

I stay quiet. I think about the people. Like, I have a fairly isolated upbringing, but hey, what princess doesn't disguise herself and explore? Shendredie is looked on as a voice of reason, a peacemaker. And there are a lot of people who don't want to deal with MSI like Mum and Dad are focused on. And while no one dares say anything to us in person, even I've seen the kids in school sniggering at us Xenaya behind our backs.

"You see it."

"He gets martyred."

Mum nods. "Our democracy has six days left before it collapses. And there's nothing legal I can do about it."

 

[CBR JGWRR]

"A Constitutional Crisis, Part 3"
8th Naomi, 6 (2183)
Rivkah Of Unity​

It's fairly obvious Heinrich is fairly boring. Only ever talks about himself kind of guy. Thankfully, I managed to slip away while he was busy talking about a portrait of some forefather.

I mean, I don't mean to sound bad, but my place is elsewhere.

After all, Mum didn't teach me everything just to let it sit idle. I've got disasters to gatecrash. It's mid-afternoon when I get back to Hortensus' Folly. Just in time. I climb up onto a rooftop overlooking the square at the intersection of Flavius' End and Trajan's Terminator, just outside the Council Chambers (I think the road names are Mum's idea of a joke) Now, I wait. I hide under a sheet.

I don't have to wait long.

Shendredie's people take up positions in the slowly assembling crowd; I can tell it's them. Mum told me how people will favour the side of their body that has a firearm. It gets in the way of some body movements too. It's obvious what he's doing, he's either planning on the assumption that my Dad will order a charge straight into civilians, or, planning on the assumption that my Dad wouldn't order a charge into civilians. Probably the first.

Of course, my Mum being my Mum, she'll have worked out Shendredie will station his people in the crowd. My Dad probably won't. I start looking for manhole covers, and at the rooftops; if Dad is feeling smart, he'll ambush from above and below. I hear voices below me. The Council are coming out onto the stairway that leads up to the Council building. I look at the sky; sunset is minutes away. How literal was Mum being when she said at sunset though?

I can hear hammers tapping nails into wood. I peek out from under cover just enough to glance; it's a lectern.

They don't normally use a lectern. Hmm. How well could two layers of wood stop bullets?

My Dad will come via the rooftops. He's going to monologue to Mum, which means he will want the flashy entrance of leaping down to her. He will then reposition to be able to bound into Shendredie's forces. Obviously my Mum will be wearing body armour, she isn't stupid.

I take another peek. Seems like the whole city is pouring into the square. Civilians massively outnumber people disguising weapons.

I hear Trrykad land on the lectern. A loud ringing sounds where someone has dropped a microphone while it's live. The square falls silent. There's eyes on the rooftops.

"It is with some concern that we meet together. Today is the long planned announcement of the results of the elections we held this week. When we held them last, it was a celebration of our freedom. This time around. we have become divided."

I hear Ykrett take the stand. "It is therefore with great sadness that we announce the dissolution of this Council, pending the formation of a new and more representative government."

The crowd begins to murmur. I run through the possibilities as quickly as I can. Mum has obviously chosen to sacrifice the Council to avoid civil war. Shendredie isn't here. Still can't see Dad. Ykrett talks again.

"We have decided not to attempt to impose a government from the top down because of the threat of collapse into civil war, which we wish to avoid."

Shendredie's people are moving forward. I hear breathing behind me.

"We therefore seek representatives of the other factions to come and formalise a new arrangement that better fits all of our people-"

Handgunners burst out of the crowd and improvise a firing line. Mum's intel on bullets is completely right, they're completely at a loss for what to do.

My cover is lifted. Dad's voice is behind me. He's afraid.

"Go."

I leap. It's a stretch, I don't quite land right, but I recover. "Stop this now, all of you!"

Shendredie's men suddenly realise the danger; they lower their weapons, their ranks depleted by casualties from firearm failure. Obviously not because of me, but if I can reach the square, the Xenaya can reach the square.

I suddenly realise why Mum told me that I have to practice my oratory before giving the speech - I've completely lost what I wanted to say.

People are looking at me.

At least I remember the lesson about projecting my voice. "I'm just a child. But even I can see the end of this. There will be nothing left of our colony. Is that truly the world each of you want?"

Shendredie's men drop their weapons. The eyes on the rooftops disappear.

Dad lands behind me, and everyone turns to him as he walks to Mum. Barring Shendredie the whole Council is still in place. Ykrett must have told them the weapons are duds.

Dad speaks to Mum. "When I came, I planned to make you Queen of the whole colony."

Mum it turns out, isn't wearing armour. "Buri, I can't accept that."

Shendredie storms through the crowd. He is furious. Easily three times the size of anyone else present, and is armoured. Chain mail on top of plate armour covers head to toe. holds a lamppost as a club.

Everyone now turns towards him, the crowd parts to avoid being knocked over. I move into his path. He stops.

"Little girl, you need to move."

Some of my gambit works; Shendredie's army collapses on seeing their leader threaten a child. I stay looking up at him, then muster all the disappointment that only a child can when they learn something they thought was true is not. "I thought you were a peaceful man."

For a moment it hangs in the balance. But he does figure out the 'I'm offering a non-violent way out of this situation' interpretation of my actions. He stops.

Everyone is looking at me again. I really hope Mum bails me out.

Of course, Mum can't. She'll have already worked out all her or Buri can do is break it.

It's up to me.

It's always wise to recognise when you only have one choice. I hug Shendredie's foot.

 

[CBR JGWRR]

"A Constitutional Crisis, Part 4"
9th Naomi, 6 (2183)
Naomi Of Unity​

Odoos preens his feathers before opening. "What we cannot ignore is that there is a huge split in how we are approaching the task of leadership. Many of us want to build something new together, others want to work together until we can split off. Until we have a successful method for resolving this, we aren't going to have a functional colony."

Ykrett rumbles. "Perhaps a dual-citizenship model?"

Shendredie turns from looking out the window. "As loathe as I am to say it, all of us know that Naomi's vision is what we will get." He looks at me impatiently. "So go on."

"Well, I have some ideas."

He stared at me.

"It's been suggested that I simply crown myself Queen and get on with ruling on the basis that I am the state. Which is distasteful to me. I think about who will come after me, and while I can be trusted, having absolute power invested in a single individual is unwise."

Buri yawns. "Equally, we know democracy didn't work out."

"The thing is, as dictator, my objective is the prosperity and growth of my people. We need a leadership structure that incentivises the same pattern in future leaders; if we have that, it doesn't really matter how leaders get appointed."

"But which is best? Imperium, Dictatorship, Oligarchy or Democracy though?"

"There's a fifth option."

The table looks at me incredulously.

"There is. A Megacorp."

Odoos complains. "You can't be serious."

Shendredie liftd his hands as he interrupts. "Let's hear her out."

Sor-Gor joins in. "Naomi, we're not here to joke, we're trying to solve our problem."

"Think it through. Take our enemy - Minamar Specialised Industries. They have a MegaCorp governance model in which Shareholders appoint the Board, and the Board appoint the CEO. MSI's structural mistakes are one, that not all their citizens are invested in the company, and therefore, the company inherently cannot benefit all citizens, and two, unequal distribution of shares among shareholders effectively creates a plutocratic oligarchy."

"So why base ourselves on them?"

"We do it differently. Make everyone a shareholder, and allow only one voting share per person."

"What difference does that make?"

"It means that the prosperity of the people is the dominant factor in getting into political power, instead of the prosperity of a certain few at the top. It becomes a Worker Cooperative."

"Can it work?"

"It's what Yehoshua HaMaadimi did to build the Iriphubliki. It's what he proposed to do about governance on Mars."

Buri nuzzles me. "Mars is one of the other planets? I hought he wanted to colonise your moon for profit?"

"Yes. But Luna was only ever a scheme to pay off the backers and anyone who just wanted to make money. He always intended to burn to Mars with just the people who shared the vision he had."

"So, those of us who want to go our separate ways would leave at the Luna stage?"

"Yes."

"What would life be like for us though?"

"We're already splitting the proceeds of our labour equally, which is what I suggest."

Odoos thinks, before standing. "My question is this. In war, who will lead? Let's face it, our enemy having a military run by moneymen is exactly what our strategy depends on."

"A clear chain of command that is not responsible to either the people, or the board."

"Not responsible?"

"Yes, not responsible. A military that answers to the people will not do what needs to be done to defeat MSI. We are not free until they are no longer operating as a free state. We should absolutely build for peace, but the Neumann capable WarForms Yehoshua designed were planned in case he ever had to fight a Martian independence war, and likewise until Unity is free, so must we focus on our independence war as our military priority."

"And how do you propose to organise it?"

"I will."

Rhizome interjects. "But you are going to be CEO, naturally."

"CEO and Commander In Chief must be different roles, even if in principle they could be held by the same person."

Sor-Gor has his doubts. "That means having to trust you with all martial force."

"Except defence subcontractors of course."

"The thing is Naomi, if they don't answer to the CEO, or the board, or the shareholders, who does the military answer too?"

"Me. And when I'm gone, Rivkah. Someone who can be trusted to break the shackles, and to live for more."

"It has dangers to let one person decide all military strategy."

"But equally, it avoids the dangers of split leadership."

Odoos rubs his head. "We're all familiar with Naomi's military plans, and provisionally we are all in agreement about the broad strokes of how to prosecute a war. But the fact remains if we adopt a corporate governance model, what is our company going to do?"

Shendredie carries on staring at me. No one else interjected.

"Habitat construction, terraforming, uplifting and genetic engineering. Life2.0."

"Why?"

"In order for us to catch up, we need orders of magnitude more people. At the moment, we only have one planet, and if we want to make a proper go of setting ourselves up to either work together or develop separately, we need more people and we need more places to live on."

Ykrett rumbles. "She's got a point."

Rhizome countered. "Equally, we have to keep in mind that races adapted to deserts are a lot more common among us than any other type of world, and with so many different races, it would be very difficult to keep our populations proportionate. Some of us take decades to mature, yet as we are already seeing from Rivkah the next generation of Xenaya are already stepping up; we wouldn't be here talking this through if it wasn't for her. I don't mean to be harsh, but statistically we are going to be a Xenayan dominated polity in only a few decades."

Odoos nodded. "I agree that we do need to take steps to keep our basic common principle of equality. Although, I also see that this itself feeds into Naomi's suggestions though, as it gives more reason to develop our abilities to build new homes."

Ykrett interjects. "Or take them."

I feel a little unnerved at that suggestion. "As for the Xenaya, it's worth remembering that they're hunter-gatherers who haven't actually developed settled agriculture yet, and having talked to them extensively, they aren't looking to develop it as they prefer their predatory lifestyle; they have a physiological need for the chase-kill sequential hunting behaviour. Food supply is therefore limited for Xenaya in a way that doesn't apply to the rest of us."

Buri nodded. "If it wasn't for valuing shared mealtimes with Naomi, we would barely eat together because of how long it takes for her to cook her food."

Rhizome looked thoughtful. "I suppose. My analysis assumed that you would change their culture to support higher population density feeding methods."

"If all else fails, we can also consider cloning under-represented races."

"Cloning?"

"Why not? Give clones the liberties and obligations of naturally made members of our society and the issue largely self-resolves."

"We don't know if it's possible."

"It is."

"What makes you so sure?"

Hmm. Oh well. "My great grandmother cloned herself parthenogenically and genetically enhanced the clone, and my grandmother cloned herself parthenogenically to make my mother, and then implanted my great-grandmother's egg cells into my mother so that my mother could have natural children. I know it's possible otherwise I wouldn't be here."

Everyone looks at me shocked.

"What? The circumstances of how we come to be are irrelevant, it's what we do with the gift of life that determines who we are."

Odoos rubs his head. Again. "I don't mean to be insulting, but I would like an adjournment to get my head around that."

The others leave too. All but Shendredie.

"Naomi. Recent events have put me in a difficult position."

"Look, about Rivkah, I sent her away from the colony to keep her safe, I was shocked that she was there."

"She prevented my followers from being slaughtered by Buri's followers. Which I'm grateful for. But you and I both know that you know about certain indiscretions while aboard the ship."

"Shendredie, the truth is that we need a balancing voice. Ykrett and Rhizome will chat casually about carrying out genocide on the Minamar. I know we don't agree on a lot, but I have no desire to let their bloodlust wreck our very fragile position either. It's the reason I won't say about why I want supreme command, I don't want to risk them trying to do something rash that wipes out our power projection capacity."

"So you aren't holding it against me?"

"If I was to have you arrested for yesterday, I'd also have to arrest my husband. We were all just trying to survive, you had an opportunity to better yourself, which you had to take because the basic rations weren't enough to sustain your people. I know a lot of your people starved on the ship because of that, and I've heard of cannibalism because of it, although I'm not sure it's true. Even without that, I'm not holding it against you because I would like us all to build for the future instead of the past, and MSI's actions can't be allowed to define us."

Shendredie lifts a limb the size of my body. Mind, I'm so slim that's hardly much... Buri's thigh is wider than my waist. "I believe your people make agreements with handshakes."

"What are we agreeing exactly?"

"Being outwitted, and humbled, by your daughter has shown me that I'm better off joining you than opposing you. I've thought it through, and I'm hoping you are the woman you portray yourself to be."

"We both have our regrets... I'm very glad last night worked out the way it did."

"Likewise, in the end."

I smile, and wrap my hand around a finger.

 

[CBR JGWRR]

"A Constitutional Crisis, Part 5"
A Cloudless Night, 9th Naomi, 6 (2183)
Buri Of Unity​

I watch Her chest rise and fall as She breathes, nestled in my embrace. Her eyes sre looking up at the stars. I nuzzle Her. "What's on your mind?"

She turns towards me. "A huge amount."

I can see it in Her face. I caress Her braided hair. "Want to talk about it? That's what we used to do when we came to this overlook."

She leans into me. "Buri, I'm furious that you went behind my back. Emotionally, I'm feeling so much..." Her voice trails as she struggled to find words.

"Rage?"

"Yes. I feel betrayed."

I contemplate Her. "What would you like me to say?"

"Honestly Buri, we both know that there's nothing honest you can say, because how you truly feel is that things would be better if I was a monarch, and that's what you aimed to do."

"You're feeling conflicted."

"Yes."

"Would mating help?"

She laughs. Then looks into my eyes. "Maybe it would, but it isn't your mating season yet, so we have to deal with my emotions a different way."

I hug Her close. "You love me, but you're also thinking about killing me."

"Not killing you. I couldn't do that. But..." She shakes Her head. "It's so stupid. My husband tries to make me queen and here I am mad about it." She breaks down and laughs with tears, and rests Her head on my chest when She's done. "I forgive you, my love."

"I know I may have picked a bad method, but I had good intentions."

She nuzzles me. "I know."

We lie together for a while. "May I change the subject?"

"What's on your mind?"

"I didn't want to ask earlier, but now we're alone I can. What is 'parthenogenically'? It didn't translate."

"It's the development of an egg cell into an embryo without fertilisation by sperm." She pauses. "Virgin birth."

"Does that mean your mother wasn't your mother?"

"Genetically no, in all other ways, yes. My parents conceived me the natural way, although the egg cell I came from was actually one of my great-grandmother's that had been preserved."

"I thought genetics was like..." I look around for inspiration. "Like those rocks over there, just different blocks added together."

"It's a common misconception. My great-grandmother was one of the foremost genetic engineers on my world, working with a gamete modification technique; life is in the cells, but it was beyond her capability to do post-conception DNA rewriting, so she extracted her egg cells, preserved some and modified others, and used the modified X chromosome to create a modified doubled-haploid clone. At first she was doing it with easier forms of life, and after a good four decades of development got my grandmother's genome to successfully develop into an embryo and implant in her womb. My grandmother repeated the process to make her daughter a clone of herself, and when MSI came - it took almost a century for the wider world to beat my great-great grandfather's self-replicating war machines - she replaced my mother's egg cells that wouldn't be able to reproduce naturally with my great-grandmother's preserved natural cells that could be fertilised. Me and my brother followed when my mother found a husband."

Hmm. "Suddenly you make sense."

"What do you mean?"

"You've always seemed like you are trying to prove yourself, to measure up to something, or someone, and you never quite make it in your own estimation. I always thought you were trying to prove yourself to us."

"Having a super-human mother does rather warp your sense of self growing up."

"How was she modified?"

"Extensively. Larger skull to allow room for a four-lobed brain coupled to a wider spine that functioned as a brain extension, and a titanium carbide skeleton supported enhanced muscles. She punched through a small tree trunk once, even if it did rip the flesh around her knuckles off. And the bones had computational substrate integrated into them, so effectively she had a hundred computers inside her body. It felt like she knew everything, especially about us, as she had scarily accurate emulations of me and my brother running constantly inside her mind."

"Scary?"

"She knew all the languages of Old Earth, but unless it was to pass on her knowledge, very rarely spoke. If she knew you, she could extrapolate the entire conversation you might have. I grew up thinking my parents were telepathic; she'd look at him and it was rare he had to say anything. And it was terrifying! Like she was... something else. She loved me and my brother, but her capabilities were so vast she made us feel small."

I hug Her as She falls silent. "You are good, Naomi."

"I just hope I'm good enough. Every day it runs through my mind how I wish I had my Mum's abilities."

"You are. What was your father like?"

"My father was much more of a heart-type of person than she was. It was his idea to start helping slaves escape."

"How were they able to do it?"

"When MSI found out about just how capable my mother was, it sparked a bidding war; set a record price for an Indentured Asset Contract when she was purchased by an MSI Sector Governor to use her for administrative duties. And once in, she integrated the system into her network, and then ran it all herself. She created fake MSI citizens to buy slaves, then arranged transfers out. Eventually, she managed to get Thando - my brother - off the records too. That's why she was with them that day, she was saying goodbye. I don't know how they got caught out, but they were; I was captured. They used me to make her surrender by threatening to kill me, then they took me out of the room after she dropped her weapons. I was sold to be a Companionship Asset. I haven't seen Thando or my father since."

"I'm sorry Naomi."

A tear falls from Her eye. "Can we talk about your family?"

"I come from a lineage of WarChiefs, on the plains of my homeworld. When I was young, I grew up dreaming of glory on a battlefield, or on a hunt." Melancholy sets in. "It's all gone now."

She nuzzles me. I stroke Her tenderly, from the back of Her head down. "It's not all gone. You have me, and we have Rivkah. We are family. I love you Buri. I love you with all my heart."

 

[CBR JGWRR]

"Splitting The Future"
15th Naomi, 6 (2183)
Daas​

This is a big day for us, I'm excited. Base fact is, the old ship-board generator is insufficient for our power needs; they had been forced to abandon having electric lights because all the generator's power was needed for their start-up industry. Nuclear fission was of course not a new technology - it was one of Naomi's many ideas to reintroduce - but it was one of their own developments. Five years of hard work by so many scientists and engineers had led to building their first modular nuclear reactor. (I was thankful that geological scans had been recovered from the ship's sensors; it could have taken decades to find enough material without it)

From now on - well, until they figured out fusion reactors, which was something that eluded even Naomi's kind, and therefore would truly be a united achievement - these reactors would be placed to supply the vast amounts of power they needed. No more of the unsightly windmills that Naomi sketched out in the first few days that turned wind into mechanical energy, and later - once they had a copper deposit to mine to make wire for electric motors - electricity.

It was a huge achievement; it took the Humans seventy years to figure out how to make modular reactors after all. Although granted, Naomi had marked the modular nuclear reactor as a critical technology to develop, and made it a major priority for both Physics and Engineering research. I think back to those early days, back before the Unfortunateness, back to when the colony felt truly united and everyone was in agreement on what to do.

The hard work was done. Now to build even more of them, and embrace the future of electricity for everyone. I watch with pride as Naomi takes the stand.

"Welcome everyone, to the opening of one of our biggest projects. Five years ago, we began planning this - our first modular nuclear fission reactor, here at our world's richest Uranium reserve. This first reactor will power our efforts to build up our industry, and allow our dreams to become reality as it's Mineral wealth enriches all of us. I would like to thank everyone who's hard work has led to this point. Many of you have been pulling twelve hour shifts for several years, using your strength to benefit all of us. And I thank you, and I offer the greatest prize I can give; four weeks of solid sleep."

I cheer with the rest of them; we have worked so very hard on this project, pushing it forward. They had earned it.

Naomi singles me out. "Most especially, I want to thank Daas. His dedication alone has shaved years off the time this project would take." She began to clap first, quickly followed by Buri, and their daughter - lovely girl, but I still had the nightmares - and soon the whole crowd was clapping for him.

I look at my wife, Vorosh; one of her tentacles strokes his face, just like she had done so often. He wrapped his own around her. "I couldn't have done this without you."

Almost drowned out by the crowd's ahs, I barely hear her whisper. "Well done darling. You've made it."