posted 01-26-99 07:31 AM ET        

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Thoughts of Michael Hefferan,

[Note this is the same character as from the CPUB but I'm going to keep him from the thread from now on. He's changed a bit during the journey to Chiron.]

Is it really a worthy goal to transform this planet with the power of our newfound scientific knowledge? Our formers tearing and mutilating the soil into an obscene parody of Earth. The same people who were responsible for the rending and tearing up of the surface of our home planet rushing to bring back to life the memory of something that exists only in the history books. How many of the new terraformers can claim to have walked through a natural forest on Earth, mixed varieties of trees and plants in an ancient order each with it's own purpose and space. The bright Autumn sun streaming through the cold air and reflecting from the soft squelching leaf debris that will help provide the soil with the nutrients for the Spring's leaves. The only sounds around are the soft crunch of your footstep on a twig followed by a short wet sucking as your foot pulls up out of the mud and the light whistling of bird song floating under the trees in the damp air. Are we to ruin the new wonders of this planet in order to recreate something we have never experienced first hand? Now I consider the long walks I have taken in this alien wilderness. Swathes of red fungus hiding mindworms and other hazards, sometimes they tower above me the spores blowing off the top like a soft white snowstorm. The brown dusty soil gradually being covered by a soft white carpet. If I decide to stay and watch the spores soon take hold. Red fingers of growth spiralling upwards. I have sat for days at a time watching the fungus grow, time no longer means anything. The mindworms the terraformers seem so scared of are peaceful and docile when I see them. I leave them alone and I get a sense from them that they respect the way I leave them alone. Every few weeks I have to travel to a settlement to steal or borrow supplies and food. I can get some sustenance from the newly planted forests but I dislike them. The genetically engineered trees have an ugly feel to them. They stand cold and aloof where the forests I walked in my youth were warm and inviting. When we landed from the Unity my emotions were saturated with the feelings I had stored through the journey. I couldn't cope with the sort of intense human contact that was required in those early days. I am glad I chose to wander. I am getting the chance to see this beautiful land in its natural state. I also get the chance to observe the new nations as they build up their military and cities. I can see the harm conflict would do to this place and it worries me deeply.

posted 03-30-99 10:11 AM ET         

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I hope you don't mind me jumping in here.

Great story. I really like stories of this type, ones that delineate the human experience on Planet. I am looking forward to the next installment.

posted 03-30-99 11:35 PM ET            

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Hmm... if Shadow returns to Sparta, I know just the job that Santiago will want to give him. Though I hope that she's needs his skills with the Morgans or some other fitting recipient, not the Gaians.

Pericles: Join the CPUB, then, and help us write these stories! It will be re-opening soon; details then.

Sorry I polluted this thread with comments. I couldn't bear triple posting in the phoenix-CPUB thread, and Pericles probably wouldn't notice it there...