posted 04-16-99 03:22 PM ET        

The four generally accepted rules of writing:

1. No killing other posters characters (or Faction leaders) without permission.
2. No starting wars without the agreement of the other factions.
3. No significant alterations of your Faction's policy without the other posters of that faction's agreement.
4. The Final and Greatest rule shall be "when in doubt, ask in the comments thread."

If you try to keep that "feel" you'll get from reading the other posts, you'll probably do fine.

posted 04-17-99 05:19 PM ET            

You could say a lot of things about Joey Gomez, but you couldn't say he was dumb. He saw there was no future for his businesses on Earth, legitimate or otherwise. He wasn't too sure there would even be a future for Earth on Earth. So, he bet on the wildcard, and got himself a spot on the starship. And, when he woke up and heard about the trouble with those nutso Spartans, well, he thought his gamble had paid off. Joey Gomez had long been of the opinion that the buying and selling of things was his forte, and here was a man who had the same philosophy. Unfortunately for Gomez, most of the other people who signed up with Morgan had a similar idea. When the colony first started up, he quickly realized that the people wouldn't pay a premium for his services, because those same services could be had from somebody else, usually with less cost. Gomez became disillusioned with Morgan Industries.

But then, things changed again. A religious "revival" had taken place. The cops were just as lax as ever, but now there were other forces at work, making certain things contraband. Nobody wanted to show up at the Christian Businessmen's Association and have it common knowledge that he partook of a little chemical recreation now and again. And the cops had wised up to it. Power and influence and pleasing the prudish moralists now went hand in hand, so they had started cracking down. And once that happened, some of the cops realized that the REAL money was going to come from the "other side" if they played ball. An underworld had sprung up, and Joey Gomez was ready for it.

Joey "the Troll" Gomez (so called because his first hideout had been at the base of the Morgan Transit Bridge in the bustling metropolis of Morgan Industries - his racket had been paying off the inspectors who were looking for contraband at the toll gates) was what most would have called a small-timer. It was true that he had the experience, but he found out that experience was no substitute for brains or talent. He had a bunch of small-time rackets: extortion, prostitution, illicit gambling, and some drugs. Drugs were the big money-makers in Gomez's business, but he couldn't get a decent supplier. His competitors mostly ignored the other areas - there just wasn't any margin in them. So Joey "the Troll" took them, and scraped out a living. He was modestly successful at the life he led, but he wasn't happy. Virtually the only thing that wasn't small about Joey "the Troll" Gomez was his ambition. He wanted to be the Boss. He just couldn't get a break. Until now, that was.

Joey had heard that a "Mr. Smith" was looking for him, and wanted to make a proposition. He had his boys check this "Smith" out, and they couldn't find anything. That's when Joey knew he was dealing with a real operator. "Smith" was coming right into Joey's office, and (from the word on the street) he wasn't even bringing any muscle to back him up.

"So, what you want with me?" Gomez demanded of his visitor.

Smith, who had just arrived, smiled. Smith was about average height, average build, brown hair, brown eyes. He was dressed in a reasonably fashionable suit with a reasonably fashionable hat. There was absolutely nothing about him that seemed extraordinary in any way. "I heard the if I had some business to conduct, then the man I wanted to talk to was Joey the Troll."

Joey Gomez clenched his teeth and seethed with anger. He hated that name. He had tried several times to become known as "the Butcher" or "the Snake", or even "the Kid", but he hadn't been able to escape his moniker. He really wished that the people he associated with would just stick to regular names, but the vast majority of them had become acquainted with their current occupation through old holo-vids. "So, you buyin' or sellin'?" he queried.

"Neither, yet. I've got a new product that I want to raise interest in, but I can't exactly advertise it through the regular channels. I think you know what kind of product I'm talking about." Smith reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small vial of reddish liquid and an injecting device.

"So, what does it do?" Gomez asked. Gomez had often wished there were some sort of trade journal for drug-dealers, because there was new stuff coming out all the time. Trying to keep on top of them all was a tough job.

"I'll leave that for you to figure out for yourself. We've developed it out of some research into those damned mindworms. They seem to be a goldmine as far as mind-altering chemicals are concerned. We're able to synthesize this, we believe in rather large quantities. But we want to make sure we have customers. I'll be back tomorrow. You should have sobered up enough by then to deal intelligently. This is a golden opportunity for you, Joey, I'm letting you get in on the ground floor."

posted 04-17-99 09:41 PM ET         

H. Aveer was about 150 years old, but he didn't look it. Between longetivity treatments, cryosleep, and the invigorating Planetary climate, he felt like a young man. Of course, he also felt almost scarred with age. That kind of thing happens when you deal, day in, day out, with mindworms.

He had been back in the Landing for ten of those years. It was his home, now. More than Earth had ever been. The cities of Earth had seemed so..so..uncaring. Just there, whether you liked it or not. The Landing, as it was called, was a different type of place entirely. The dome that had been there for the first thirty years of Planetary history had been torn down, and those who wished could leave the undercorridors of the city, the literal roots of the huge Yggradsil tree that the city had been carved into, and venture outside. The opportunity had been available every day on Earth, but no one cared to take advantage of it. It was taken for granted.
Not here. Here a society would be founded where that was not so. Where Man and Planet could merge as never before. At first, it was a saying. Then, the worms had been discovered, and now...
Aveer put on his Planetsidesuit and stepped out into the open air. He would have liked to raise his helmet and take a deep breath, but he knew the nitrogen would kill him in minutes.
The hill of Garland Crater, known as the Eye of Planet, stuck out on the horizon. In a flash of insight, Aveer imagined it disppearing, and him looking out through the vistas of Chiron. Here he saw an underground tunnel, doubtlessly leading to Hive corridors. There was an imposing fortress. Perhaps Santiago's people had made it after all. The image stretched over thousands of kilometers of land and sea, and then, slowly, disappeared. He almost thought he heard something sounding like 'earthaveer', but wasn't sure. He checked his watch, and returned to the city. There was much to be done.

posted 04-18-99 02:00 AM ET            

It wasn't working. Where was it? Oh well, mine as well let Jeneba know by thinking out loud.

"Drat. This darn computer. It just erased our entire file on Gajic! It's like everything that's happened since we first sent Enrojalas over to meet him never happened!"

"Weird. You get it going again?"

"Hey, it's still going. It's only that part that got deleted. Weird."

"Yeah. No matter. The way things have settled down, we'll never need him."

Well, that went nowhere. I was bored. I seemed to have been afflicted with some kind of wanderlust recently, and I decided to take a stroll outside to gather my resources together.

I left the Government building out the side entrance. I took Gould Street- the east-west streets in Morgan Industries are named after famous tycoons- out towards the edge of Center City, passing incidentally the warehouse that had been renovated and expanded to become the magnificent Ascension Cathedral. The Believers had actually financed the construction of the building- while the Morganite government was officially secular, the Believers used their treaty to send businessmen in with the agenda of Christianizing the Society. I noticed again the giant statue of John Knox in front, the man who rowed from France to Scotland and converted the Scots. Gee, I wonder what the Believers were thinking when they chose that statue. And Morgan had offered no complaint about this proselytizing, after hearing messy tales of the brief Believer-Peacekeeper war, in which Miriam drove Lal back to his original continent, his colonization effort crushed. We were just glad that Morgan Collections and Morgan Metallurgy, founded a few years after the treaty, were safe.

I reached the edge of center city, and decided to turn on the perimeter and walk down Wall Street, which was both correctly and incorrectly named. It was correctly named in that it was the site of the first defenses built for Morgan Industries, just as the classic one was named after. But it was no modern center of high finance- that was restricted to the inner city I had just left. As I walked, I noticed Mercy Hospital East standing there. It was a branch of Mercy Hospital, but put in a higher treatment profit area for the slightly higher crime in that area. Most of the Research work of the hospital was done in the center city building. I visited there much more often then here, so I decided to go take another look.

I entered the building as just another face. I, however, got quick results when I showed the attendant my level A security pass.

"Do you want to see the operations director?"

"No, actually I don't. I'm just curious: any weird cases recently?"

"Um... well, may I ask why you ask so I can point you more specifically to what I want?"

"No, I'm just interested in all things weird."

"Um... okay... well, I'm not really the one to talk to on that. The operations director would have a list of all our current patients though, so you should probably ask him anyway."

Well, whatever. Guess I get to meet with him anyway.

"Well... that's certainly an interesting request. I'm glad someone from such a high level is taking an interest here. Perhaps you'd like to see our resear-"

"Nah, I want something weird. If it's in research, so be it. But I didn't think you did much research here?"

"Well, yes, and we'd like to change that. And-"

"If you don't show me something weird now, I'll insure your research is cut." I flashed a big smile.

"Okay... well, there's this one patient who got dragged in. Seems he was taken in here to sober up- he was wandering the streets- and his BAL was a big fat 0. He's fine now, but we haven't released him because we can't figure out what made him so incoherent. We're waiting for the blood results to come back."

Waiting. How long did it take? "How much longer before the results come back? I see on his chart he was admitted a good 5 hours ago. This is the 23rd century you know, and you have your own little research crew downstairs."

"That's one of the reasons I gave this to you. They should be done now. Let's go down and check them, shall we?"

Well, I went downstairs with him. I met a lab attendant there, brown eyes, brown hair, average build, nothing interesting at all, while the director mentioned his special guest. I took a look at the test.

"Nothing? Nothing at all?"

The lab attendant seemed to agree. "Yeah. Weird, isn't it?"

"Indeed. I think I'll take this patient under my wing- we'll take him over to a certain medical facility I know that the government runs. This case interests me."

The lab attendant seemed a bit nervous about this. "What? Do you think our tests missed anything or something? We're up to standard here, you know."

I responded "No, we just have better equipment over there. I'm not saying that because you aren't paid nearly as much as the doctors over in the central hospital you're worse or anything. If anything, I trust people like you more to do good work and aggressively hunt for all possible things you can do with anything so you can get ahead and impress your superiors. What's your main field of research?"

"Um... we analyze mindworm samples here mostly. Since we don't have a real biology lab, the job usually falls to us."

"Hmm. So what have you accomplished with them?"

"Well... since the breeding in captivity is done over in Morgan Metagenics, we basically take the juices and fluids in a mindworm and analyze them and try and figure out how they create the terror in their victims. We've isolated a few key enzymes, but we haven't gotten them to the point where they're truly useful yet."

"Hmm... okay. I'm still taking him over there."

Mr. Gomez wasn't so enthusiastic about going over there, though.

"What! What are you doing! We have a good legal system here, I can sue you! I-"

"I am the legal system Mr. Gomez. You will be further tested to find out what compelled you to do that. Somehow I don't feel that you had a sudden urge to sing while lying down on a sidewalk. It's a good thing that we still have a log of everyone here in Morgan Industries. Perhaps you could tell us why now, unless you want to be drugged up in a lab, have the truth extracted from you, and then be never heard from again."

That shut him up very fast. Just a little trembling going on after that with his hands. Can't say I blamed him.

Later, I returned back to my office. Jeneba was getting ready to leave for Morgan Metagenics, she was heavily involved with our plan to breed some mindworms in captivity and she was working on the devilish step of making them obey humans. A harder job than it sounded, and it didn't sound easy. It was then that the fateful call arrived. Morgan had left his office and was gathering us up about something important.

"We're getting something on the commlink from Lal. He's invoking UN Code C5A to call a "Planetary Council," as he claims that now that he has all of our commlinks now that he has met the Spartans, it is time to re-unite the mission."

posted 04-18-99 04:14 PM ET            

Michael Regalis was seated, like in his other presentations to the Faculty, facing the row of the eleven Faculty members under the large wall-mounted crest of the University of Planet. This time, however, there were also the five most senior members of the Legislative Senate present, as this was a special emergency session that had been called in response to the recent diplomatic maneuverings by the Peacekeeping Forces. The Peacekeepers, pursuant to UN Code C5A, had called the faction leaders to a �Planetary Council� to be held in the UN Headquarters.

Zakharov began, �I, Academician Prokhor Zakharov, do hereby commence this emergency session of the Joint Panel of the University of Planet, together with representatives of the Legislative Senate, on Mission Year 2180.28776. This emergency session has been called to address the recent diplomatic development concerning the Peacekeeping Forces� call to develop a Planetary Council that would be, in effect, a nominal world government. Ministerial Academician of Foreign Relations and External Affairs Michael Regalis has the floor, and we shall move directly to him.�

�Thank you, Academician Zakharov. As the esteemed Academician has indicated, the Peacekeeping Forces, upon acquiring the communications frequencies of every faction upon Chiron, has, pursuant to the United Nations� Unity Mission Charter Part C, Article 5, Section A, paragraph 1, clause 156, also referred to as UN Code C5A-p1-c156, called a session of, what they term as, a Planetary Council. Our legal analysis is that such a political entity can be created, and indeed it can be argued that it is supposed to be created under the UN Charter. Now, according to the Department of Justice and Law, this Planetary Council would be tantamount to a legislative body of a world government, and, doubtlessly, Commissioner Pravin Lal of the Peacekeeping Forces has every intention of eventually uniting the seven factions under a strong, global federal government, of which he would probably serve as the chief executive. Now, I have been in contact with the Gaian emissary, and Lady Deirdre Skye intends to go to the base United Nations Headquarters to participate in the Council. The Gaians have already sent representatives to the Peacekeepers to prepare for her arrival.

posted 04-18-99 04:56 PM ET         

As...UN Charter....cooperation and unity upon Planet....before the disasterous fragmentation of the mission.....Planetary Council.....attend

posted 04-18-99 06:22 PM ET            

Yang smiled and placed his palms flat on the table, a gesture of serenity meant as a counterpoint to Strand's excitement. "No, Jonathan, we will not concede any sovereignty to this so-called 'Planetary Council', but we must nevertheless take part. The Hive is strong, but even we could not stand up to the combined might of the other six factions. Should we not have a presence on Lal's little committee, they might be tempted to ally against us."

Strand sat down, fuming. The news about "Lal's little committee" had barely arrived, and already it was deemed a diplomatic crisis. It seemed that Lal was intent on setting himself up as the governor of all of Planet. And Lal's conception of government was about as foreign to the Hive's way of thinking as one could get. "Government of the politician, by the politician, and for the politician," Strand had described while he was waiting for the rest of the council to assemble. Elijah Gordon was quick to add that "virtually any reasonable security measures" were outlawed under the ridiculous Peacekeeping Forces Constitution.

"We do not know how much support Lal has in this endeavor," continued Yang, "but we must make every effort to assure that the rest of the factions do not ally against us. We have attempted bilateral negotiations with several of these factions in the past, and we have been rebuffed at every turn. Unless they become more willing to deal with us, we must continue our military buildup. Would you report on that, please, Oliver?"

Oliver Kent, Councilmember responsible for oversight of manufacturing, said "our factories are producing at capacity. We believe that our bases are satisfactorily garrisoned, and we have completed producing 75% of the arms and vehicles that General Brinkman has requested for his taskforce."

Brinkman himself chimed in. "Our forward observers have not noticed any new troop movements in Morgan territory. We have relatively poor intelligence on either the University or Spartan military capacity, but we believe these to be the primary threats on Planet. Godwinson's Luddites have the manpower to be a threat, but our intelligence reports indicate that that they possess neither the industrial capacity nor the advanced technology to wage a sustained war of aggression at this time. If Godwinson were to ally with one of the other factions, however, they could be a force to be reckoned with. The taskforce that Mr. Kent spoke of is being staffed with our most experienced people, and the equipment that our industrial centers are churning out for them is top of the line. When we are at 100% capacity, we believe that this force will be able to mount a quick response to any amphibious invasion that may be attempted. With appropriate support, we believe that this force would also be capable of a limited preemptive action in Morgan, University, or Peacekeeper territory, should that be required. Trying to place them beyond that would put their supply lines in jeopardy, and I would strongly urge against it."

"Thank you, gentlemen," said Yang. "Hopefully these precautions will not be necessary, but we have the security of the entire Hive to think about. I will travel to Lal's meeting personally, and I shall take only a small diplomatic staff with me. I would like for Brinkman's taskforce to be at 100% by the time the 'Planetary Council' is to convene. If the other factions are to take military action against us, I suspect we shall learn of that fact in the Council."

"We'll do our best, Chairman," answered Kent.

posted 04-19-99 12:01 AM ET            

Well, at least it would be an opportunity to re-unite with the Spartans. If everyone I knew there wasn't dead already. I just hoped they had found their own anti-aging agents. In any case, meeting them would be good. With any luck, Santiago would happily agree to trade with Morgan, and hopefully she would have some nice military technology. The Believers had been working on Applied Superstring Theory, an idea paddled around for a long while and that the Believers thought could be applied to military usage. But progress was going disturbingly slow, especially after one of the better scientists on the project mysteriously disappeared. Whether he got fed-up and went to live in the wilderness, found a way back to Peacekeeper territory (he was originally a citizen of the Peacekeeping colonization effort that was taken by Miriam), or was arrested for heresy by the Order of the Black Rose, was up for debate. So we just hoped that Santiago could help our military where Miriam said "give me a few more years."

Jeneba had canceled her trip to Morgan Metagenics. She was going to be a member of the unusually small delegation. This was going to set back our mindworm research a tad though. That could be trouble. Speaking of defense... our forces were actually unusually low at the moment. This was a calculated risk that was on my head. I fully realized that the chances of a war would shoot up exponentially after the Council. I also realized that we would hopefully, key word hopefully, get new weapons prototypes off of Santiago, which would render any military we built before hand obsolete anyway. So I figured I would save us the cost of building an obsolete military, and take the risk that we would have a brief period of vulnerability. Besides... I was confident that no one except the Believers had very good spying information on us. I just hoped that no opportunistic nations had noticed our fairly weak military status. And there was always the navy- another advantage of being an island nation. Our navy wasn't bad, at least.

Speaking of spying... I looked over our intelligence reports. We had a quite lovely picture of University society with our agents living there. They were well prepared for a war with better technology, but they seemed to have no intentions of striking- no mobilizations, merely average readiness, the standard bored army routine. We had a slightly scratchier picture of the Believers- we may have had a treaty with them, but those guides that our traders had sure made sure that our traders never got any inside information. Zakharov should have agreed to the kind of terms the Believers set up. And I was hesitant to send the Probe Corps against the Believers very strongly. But we still had a fairly clear idea on their relative strength, which was strong; but most of their "offensive" armies were still stationed in former Peacekeeper territory, applying martial law. There were a few kept on our border for safeguards, but there would be more if Miriam had something up her sleeve. And we would know if she started transferring her troops over to our neck of the woods- hopefully.

Our least precise picture was of Lal and the Hive. Lal we were really too far away from for me to waste our precious probe teams on them; we knew he had allied with the Gaians, and that was about it. The Hive, well... can't say we didn't try. And we had gotten some news, but unfortunately, the actor hadn't sung the lines we'd like to hear. Specifically, Goldstein had reported that a quite substantial military buildup had occurred in the Hive over the last years. Scarier, they had what could be termed "surplus" units that perhaps could be spared from defense and assigned to offensives. And they were still building more.

"Well, the Hive is rather security-conscious, Mr. Legrand. What we may call a secure homeland may be his minimum-security hovel."

I remembered that dispatch. Well, that may be true. But the fact is, he could use it for offense if he wanted. For all Morgan bragged about his industrial might, the Hive factories, I hear, really take the cake in terms of productivity. The good thing about that was that with proper messaging, the morale of his workers could become treasonous with the correct message delivered. But I had no intention of doing that unless Yang really asked for it. And we really needed more information. After the tragic death of Mr. Enrojalas, I was concerned for the safety of probe teams operating in Yang's territory.

In any case... I ramble to myself. There isn't much preparing I can do for this conference, since we're so in the dark on other's foreign policy. The Believers weren't much help here either. They had as little information as we. The only real goals I figured that we had in mind were to hopefully match policy with the Spartans, and keep the Hive at bay, and especially not allied with the University, else we be crushed. I just hoped that Santiago's foreign interests matched mine.

----------
NOT from the Memoirs of Alasair Legrand

Kristina Gallin was not happy. She had been a former member of the Christian States of America, the group that had nuked the Pacific Coast. She did not see the Unity as an evil, but rather a tool of God to start afresh on a Christianized Planet. And it was people like Lal who wanted to make a new world order which let the common man go which way he wanted and to have a government separate from the Church. But Kristina knew in her heart of hearts that left for themselves, the common man would not find God without guidance, say from their parents. That was the only way that America stayed at least somewhat moral so long, she thought to herself. And in Lal's society, with no support from the government, the guidance would not be there. The place would be filled with heathens and agnostics and infidels of all sorts. As it was, when she interrogated captured prisoners afterwards for the Believing military. Her superiors complained that she seemed not so much to be getting useful information as simply showing utter contempt at captured ones who's beliefs did not match her own. Most of it was carried out in "Do you realize that you will be my servant, pig, in heaven?" And then halfheartedly, "I might be easier on you if you tell me what you know... But don't think you aren't going to hell or anything, because you are." That was why Kristina joined the Order of the Black Rose, a paramilitary organization that operated technically without force of law, but was tolerated and condoned by the government as long as they did not overstep the bounds too much. A better secret police you could not ask for, as they zealously hunted all they suspected of heresy. And even Reverend Johnston, co-founder of the order and by no means a moderate, was concerned these days about the harshness of the youngest members, who didn't even want to give the sinners a chance to repent anymore.

posted 04-20-99 09:45 PM ET            

"Chairman Yang, I'm so happy you could make it. You are the first Councilmember to arrive, aside from Commissioner Lal, of course. My name is Claudia Simpson, I'm on the staff of the Council parliamentarian, but we're understaffed at the moment, so I have the privelege of showing you to your quarters here at the Council Building. I'm so happy you haven't brought any weapons with you. I was afraid that I was going to have to ask you to leave them in your rover. Commissioner Lal sends his assurances the he will do everything in his power to ensure the security of this meeting."

"I'm glad to see you have a sense of humor, Ms. Simpson. I shall have to remember to tell Elijah that there was nothing to worry about. That Commissioner Lal was PERSONALLY ASSURING our security. Elijah will find that very amusing, won't he Michael?"

"Most assuredly, Chairman," said one of Yang's security guards with a grin.

"There are fourteen members of the delegation, Ms. Simpson, including my own personal guarantee of security," Yang continued, as he indicated the two men who had stepped out ahead of him, and the two that had emerged from the rover and flanked him. "I trust there are accomodations for all of us?"

"Yes, Mr. Chairman, if you'll just follow me we'll have you all taken care of before you know it". Claudia led them through the domeside door and down some long and twisty corridors until they reached a balcony area looking out though a transparent dome section to see an impressive and picturesque vista outside. "These rooms will be at your disposal until the Council session is over. There are intercoms inside which will put you in contact with someone who can resolve any problems that you might need resolved. Commissioner Lal is looking forward to dining with you this evening. Is seven o'clock acceptable to you?"

"I will be available at seven."

"Thank you sir, enjoy your stay."

---------------------

"It's clean, Chairman. No listening devices, no concealed weapons, its just a regular room, just as it appears."

"I hadn't expected much treachery from Lal and his lackeys, Michael, it is some of the other guests who concern me. Do you feel confident that you can ensure our safety here?" Yang asked.

"Yes. I would prefer that we were better armed, but I couldn't risk bringing more in without detection. I think we can be relatively confident in our safety."

"Very well, Michael. I suppose that we should ready ourselves for dinner. I hope for your sake that the things I have heard about Peacekeeper cuisine are exaggerations."

"What have you heard," he yelped, "it couldn't be worse than nutri-pack ultra-rations... Could it?"

posted 04-21-99 12:00 AM ET            

The scientist handed me a vial. "Well, this was basically all we could get. He destroyed his work very well. But not quite perfectly. We managed to whip this sample up from recovered parts of his hard drive and another mindworm sample. The effects on our "volunteer" here are quite powerful, as you can see from this videotape." The scientist played a video of Mr. Gomez writhing around in agony, then one of him smiling ludicrously serenely. It seems that somehow, the effects did not wear off quite right on Gomez before, and the result was that enough cognizance of the world was gained to leave his apartment, but not enough to act rationally. Which was why he was caught, and now served as a perfect guinea pig for medical experiments at the Morgan Research Complex, slightly removed from the main city and underground. Shortly after the meeting at the hospital, the scientist who had ran the tests on Gomez disappeared, and had trashed his research in the process. Worse still, Morgan delayed so long in closing the city off to trade that we decided not to do it anyway, since he had surely already escaped. But we were getting some valuable research off of the assistant who fled, a man named Kierson. We had to leave for the Planetary Council in an hour, so we were getting our last bit of information.

"In any case, here you go. It�s meant to be injected intravenously, but you could also put it in food I suppose. It would cause a taste change though, and would not be as effective anyway. Use it with caution."

posted 04-21-99 12:30 AM ET            

"Well, at first we figured he was trying to double cross us. You know, get the stuff and then sell it to Chico. But Chico don't know anything about it. So then we got to really lookin' for 'im, you know? And we kinda found him, but not quite, see, 'cuz the cops got 'im," answered Tim 'Numbers' McGee.

"They got our STUFF!?" shrieked the Lizard.

"No, no, see, it wasn't like that at all. See, he never hooked up with the real shipment, see. He didn't have nothin', see, but the cops got him anyway."

"But that doesn't make any sense. He coulda just made a call to Trask and been out. If they got no evidence there's no way Trask wouldn'a been able to spring him by now."

"But that's what I'm sayin', see, this wasn't no regular cop, right? It was that Legrand character, you know? He took the Troll, and we don't know what they doin' to 'im. But I don't like it, boss. That dude gives me the creeps. And he don't take no bribes, neither. You remember what happened to Sonny?"

"Yeah," the Lizard growled, "I remember."

"Yeah, well I don't want what happened to Sonny to happen to me, you know? I mean Joey's a good guy, you know, I even let him date my sister once, but do you think he'll crack? I mean he can finger me for sure, maybe even you. I mean what's goin' on here? This wasn't how it was supposed to go down."

"I don't like this Legrand business, Numbers, I don't like it one bit. But he's too big for me. I think we gotta go upstairs on this one."

"Oh, I don' know boss, you sure this is the kind of thing you want to bother Mr. Stevens about?"

"Yeah, Numbers. This was gonna be the biggest deal of our lives. You should know that, you been doin' the books. I didn't think much of the Troll up till now, but he was right on the money with that Smith character. If we hook up with Smith's people we're gonna clean up. We can't let no lousy cop mess it up, I don't care how high up he is. And to deal with somebody that high up, well that means we talk to Stevens."

posted 04-21-99 07:30 PM ET            

Regalis breathed in the air deeply. He had stepped through the security doors and into the Central Laboratory of the University of Planet, a truly emotional experience. Although the Central Lab was by no means the largest, the strategically most important or even the most productive research facility in the University, it was the lab that children dreamed of working in. It was where Academician Zakharov himself conducted research; it had only the best minds within its halls, and working within it meant that one had been recognized as being of the highest caliber of scientist. Consequently, of course, it also possessed the highest security imaginable. Everyone�s activities were monitored and recorded every second of every minute, and merely entering the Central Laboratories meant that you had agreed to waive many of your constitutional rights.

Zakharov himself had summoned Regalis to the Central Laboratory, but despite that, he was still a visitor, to be escorted by three security personnel. Regalis found himself wondering how the laboratory could be so productive when so many �precautions� were taken.

Zakharov was in the middle of six or seven scientists when Regalis arrived and they were all tinkering with various panels possessing wires and optical computer chips of all sorts located near a wall-sized computer screen. It was apparent that they were working on the computer that went with that screen, and it was quite some time before Zakharov noticed Regalis� arrival.

�Regalis!� Zakharov gleamed with pride. �My friend, what you are about to witness is a true quantum leap of science��

------------------------------------

M.Y. 2180: Academician Zakharov�s Address to the Combined Sessions of the Joint Panel of the Faculty, the Legislative Senate, and the Assembled Ministerial Academicians of the Departments of the University of Planet.

Michael Regalis was seated in the back of the University Assembly Hall, along with the other Ministerial Academicians, behind the Senators and the Faculty members. Everyone was seated in a semicircular formation facing Zakharov, who was giving a three-part presentation. The first part was on the radical new technological breakthrough that had occurred; it was a presentation on pre-sentient computer intelligences that had been too technical for Regalis to fully understand. The second part had just been completed, and it has been concerning the wondrous benefits that had been conferred on the University by its (governmentally implemented) new social emphasis on the acquisition of knowledge, education of the masses, and the pursuit of high technology. After a ten-minute recess that followed the second part, everyone had been reseated and Zakharov was just beginning his third presentation.

�My friends and colleagues, as you all know, the Planetary Council shall commence its first session in exactly nine days, and within only four days I and a small diplomatic delegation shall depart for the Council. Both the Senate and the Faculty has debated whether we should or should not participate, coming to the conclusion that it is in our best interests to do so. On the brink of this historic event, it is my intention now to review and shortly address our pre-Council foreign situation.

�I shall begin with a short summation of the University�s overall internal status. Provided that we politicians are halfway decent in our jobs, you will be familiar with what I have to say.� The majority of people present laughed, really for no other reason than to be polite. �Yes,� Zakharov smiled, �allow me to continue. First of all, I am pleased to say that the technological upgrading of our defensive capabilities has continued, albeit with the most minimal effects on facility development projects that could be desired. However, due to our continued commitments to infrastructure and facility development, we have become quite lax in developing any major offensive capabilities. As you know from the presentations of the Ministerial Academician of National Defense and the Chief Overseer of the Military Forces, although we are well suited to defend our borders, we would be forced to re-concentrate our industrial productivity on constructing offensive military prototypes should war, with anyone, occur.

�To move on to a pressing topic of our foreign relations, I will now address our relationship with Gaia�s Stepdaughters. We had possessed a tenuous alliance, which contained certain clauses that said, in effect, that either the Gaians or the University could withdraw from the pact within the first two months without any diplomatic repercussions. As of yesterday, both factions officially dissolved the pact, as both of factions� executive and legislative branches voted overwhelmingly to do so. This mutual termination of this �trial pact,� if you will, is, by no means, any signal that we are becoming more hostile towards one another. Despite some strenuous arguments presented in the Senate to the contrary, the Gaians are just as much our friends as before; we had both decided, not that we were ideologically incompatible, but that the mutual economic benefits were not sufficient to warrant the risk of becoming involved in one another�s disputes��

--------------------------------------

Michael Regalis and Vasily Bortniansky were sitting in a dimly lit room, surrounded by computers displaying various Intelligence reports. Neither of them were particularly happy about this, but they both were determined to review all such important information before the departed for to UN Headquarters for the Council. Bortniansky was in an especially foul mood, as an important University spy had mysteriously turned up dead within New Jerusalem. For the moment, however, they were looking over the limited reports concerning the Hive.

The Human Hive was an interesting topic, much debated in intellectual circles throughout the University. There were basically only two positions in such debates: those who supported the improvement of relations with the Hive, and those who did not. The arguments of those who liked the Hive usually concerned the military strength of the Hive, approval for Hive atheism, and the fact that University dogma was one of the least repugnant to Hive philosophy, next to, perhaps, the mysterious Spartans. The objections to friendship with the Hive, well� let�s put it this way. Nobody in the University government had ever been accused of having ethics, but a major concern was the apparent oppression that the Hive poured onto its citizens. If the University of Planet ever came too close to the Human Hive, then, unquestionably, its relation with the Peacekeepers would suffer immensely�

�So what is our latest information on Hive military developments?� Bortniansky asked, a little too exhausted to use the computer to find out for himself.

�They seem to be taking an aggressive posture; their larger military deployments are near major Hive ports, and they seem to be rapidly developing more military equipment,� Regalis frowned. He was unwilling to add that that was pretty much all they knew, except for a few details here and there, about the Hive. Much of the University�s information, especially on the limited knowledge of Hive research efforts, had been acquired second-hand through the intelligence operatives in Morgan Industries.

�If they want to use the Council as an excuse to launch a military assault, I am not concerned. We are more than prepared to hold off any attack,� Bortniansky yelled at the console that had the misfortune of displaying the few pictures there were of the Hive military.

�Oh, we simply are not making any progress here. Why don�t we move onto �"

�The Believers!� Bortniansky interjected.

He is in a BAD mood, thought Regalis. �Well, all right, Vasily��

�That garbage! That genetic rubbish of humanity! Did you know that they have a paramilitary organization so ultra-religious that it sabotages even the Believers� research efforts?�

�Yes, the Order of the Black Rose.�

�It shakes even my faith in the concept of evolution. God Almighty.�

�Don�t mention Him,� Regalis warned, �You�ll get arrested.�

Bortniansky mumbled something in a Slavic language that Regalis did not recognize.

posted 04-22-99 12:58 AM ET            

"I saw no reason to refuse your invitation, Doctor," answered Yang.

"Ummm� Yes� You know, it's been a long time since we last met in person. Generations, in fact, since we left the Unity. I thought we might take this opportunity to discuss things in a less formal way than through spokesmen and diplomats. It's no secret that our relations have been somewhat strained."

"Yes, I understand that you have made that quite clear to the other factions."

"Now wait a minute, what exactly is that supposed to mean?"

"Doctor, don't insult my intelligence. We have operatives who have intercepted several of your communiqu�s. Your reports of oppression and inhumane treatment would be comical if it were not for the fact that some governments have been taking them seriously."

"It is my obligation under the UN Charter to report any and all violations of civil or human rights on Planet. Your regime is not exempt from that mandate."

"The UN burned with the rest of the Earth, my good doctor. Your precious charter is little more than a meaningless document entered into by states which no longer exist. The charter for our future is what we make of it. WE have chosen to abandon the mistakes of the past, mistakes you seem eager to repeat," Yang responded.

"Abandon mistakes? Like the mistake of free speech? The mistake of free assembly? The mistake of democratic government?" Lal sneered.

"Yes, but not the way you mean, Doctor. In the Hive, we have corrected the problems that exist in your society. In your society the populace would be incensed if it could not denounce or replace the government, precisely because your society is run so poorly. Our society is managed as optimally as our knowledge, experience, and technology will allow. To seek change in that atmosphere would be foolish. None of the Members wish to exercise these 'rights' that you hold so dear. Instead, they choose to enjoy the comfort, safety, and prosperity that our society has provided."

"So you say, 'Chairman', but how can we KNOW that you aren't oppressing your people?"

"How can you KNOW, good doctor, that everything you perceive is not an illusion? It is enough that WE know our society functions as WE wish it. We have no desire to please you or your political cronies. Every Member of the Hive strives towards excellence and every Member of the Hive honors his or her duty to the Hive. I am no different in that regard. You choose to classify the world into 'ruler' and 'subject' to match your medieval understanding of sociology. Do not project your limited viewpoint onto others who choose to move beyond the confines of the past and create a new society."

"Medieval?! Our society is founded on the basic principles of human rights and the will of the people!"

"It is the will of the Hive that we be governed optimally, and the carrying out of this policy is what you have been decrying to the other leaders."

"You KNOW what I've been decrying: your re-education camps, your forced labor, your suppression of all political opposition!"

"I would ask you to refrain from using your dreams as a basis for your slanderous accusations. These boogey-men that you drag up from the depths of history may be good for frightening your children, but they do a disservice to the leaders of the other factions. If you are going to continue to manufacture lies, you should at least make them plausible."

"Lies? Lies?! We have many reports of your oppressive activities, Yang, many reports. Why, CEO Morgan alone has documented seventeen�"

"Mr. Morgan has his own agenda, Lal. You should always question your sources. Morgan is no champion of human rights."

"What are you saying?" demanded Lal.

"I am saying nothing. The Gomez affair is a matter for Morgan's civil authorities. Unlike you, we respect the sovereignty of other factions. I believe that this dinner is finished. I trust that you will comport yourself with more dignity should we ever dine again."

posted 04-22-99 06:59 PM ET            

The University of Planet�s delegation to the Council consisted of twenty-four people; aside from Regalis, there were five University government officials. These included the Faculty Academicians Prokhor Zakharov, Vasily Bortniansky, and Ivan Klyuchevsky (of the Military Sciences), and the Senators Thomas Hobson and Jonathan Turner. The other people in the delegation were security personnel, technicians, and assistants. Many University officials had already stepped out of their vehicles and into the air-locked rover bay before the Peacekeepers� �reception committee� arrived.

Claudia Simpson came running. �I am so sorry about not arriving at once.� She paused to catch her breath before she continued. �I�m Claudia Simpson of the staff of the Council parliamentarian. We�re short staffed, and so I�m afraid I�m the only one here to greet you. You probably should know that you�re the second delegation to arrive; Chairman Yang and the Hive delegation arrived yesterday.�

As the proper individual was not yet out of his rover, Regalis found himself making the University introductions. �Ah, yes; this is Academician Zakharov, Academician Klyuchevsky, Academician Bortniansky, Senator Hobson, Senator Turner, and I am Ministerial Academician Regalis.�

Claudia Simpson was surprised. �Oh, you brought more than one government official; I hadn�t been informed of that. Commissioner Lal wanted to have dinner with Zakharov at seven local time, but I�m sure he�ll agree to have dinner with all of you.�

�Well, it would have been inappropriate for us to not to bring representatives of all concerned governmental administrations,� Zakharov pointed out. �This is especially true for those officials whose positions are directly related to the external affairs of the University.�

�Oh, well, that�s alright. You had decided to bring a total of twenty-four people, if I remember correctly?� Simpson queried. �We have your rooms prepared for you, if you will follow me.�

------------------------------

With the exception of the Faculty members, the Senators, and Regalis, all of the University personnel�s �optical equipment� actually were camouflage pieces for several personal weapons that could be quickly pieced together �should the need arise.� Everyone was quite aware that if the Peacekeepers ever found out, the University relations with them would be strained. Despite that fact, it was decided that smuggling weapons was a necessary precaution, as it was known that the Believers had also decided to grace the Council with their presence. It was highly probable that they, too, were intent on smuggling weapons in. As for the others, it was an absolute certainty that �security-minded� Yang had decided to do so, and it would probably also be true for the mysterious Spartans as well, even though everything that the University �knew� about them was rumor and speculation.

-------------------------------

The banquet table was very long, so as to accommodate all of the factions� important delegates. At the moment, however, the only factions represented there were the Peacekeeping Forces and the University of Planet, as the Human Hive decided to abstain from Lal�s table until all the factions arrived. Only the six University government officials were there on behalf of the University, with Zakharov and Lal seated beside one another. Regalis, being the lowest ranking University official present, was seated too far to hear their conversation�

��I tried to explain to Yang that without liberating the individual from fear of governmental retaliatory punishments, the individual cannot fully benefit from civilization, no matter how prosperous it may be,� Lal complained. �But Yang never allows those diametrically opposed to him to finish their arguments.�

�Please,� Zakharov half-jokingly chided, �let us maintain a degree of politeness and decorum.�

�Of course, my friend. Anyway, as I was saying, Yang�s position that his government I just so wonderful is absurd. That is purely a matter of opinion, and it is wrong for him to deny his people the right to express their views on his government. One of the fundamental principles of democracy, which is the one that also happens to be the most civilized, is that everyone can express their views, and anyone�s ideas could be implemented, provided that a majority agrees with it and it does not infringe on the rights of others.�

�I can see that your meeting with Yang truly upset you,� Zakharov offered, �and I must say that I agree with your assertions that the Hive is unnaturally oppressive.�

�Exactly. How can he honestly say that he has the support of the people, when they�re too frightened to disagree with his dictatorial regime? He says that his society is not base on the, quote, �medieval concept of rulers and subjects,� unquote, when his society is, in reality, the faction most based on that concept.�

posted 04-23-99 12:51 AM ET            

U.N. Headquarters was on the wrong side of the island in relation to the Morgans. In order to get back to Morganite territory safely, their ferry would have to pass through Peacekeeper waters almost the whole way. On the other hand, they could get to Believing territory easily if tensions heated up. Not that they would, of course, but...

"Thinking about something?" Jeneba had apperantly noticed my pensive look.

"Just being paranoid, as usual. I'm a bit anxious about the meeting."

"Didn't your English teachers do anything with you? Don't use the word "anxious" to mean nervous in a formalized setting. I mean, imagine if you did that at the real thing. We'd be laughed out of the conference and become the disgrace of the Planet. Right?"

"Of course. I'll remember that."

Nice to see that she hadn't lost her sense of humor. But I had a deep sense of forboding. The other factions were probably coming armed to the teeth. Nevermind that the Peacekeeper 1st and 8th army was stationed in the city to keep order compared to the squad-sized delegations. So it was probably for the best that Morgan hadn't brought any, considering how little use they'd likely be. However, I was bringing, in the best tradition of Richard Nixon, my chemistry set of mind-altering drugs for use if the oppurtunity presented it self, as well as some lovely bugs to plant. All of which had self-destruct sequences if found of course, but I had no intention of planting them where people would check for them of course. In any case...

----------------------
The boat was just coming in. The dockhands moved in and in their ancient tradition tied us up next to the dock. It seemed odd that they were still using rope in such a high industrial age as ours, but the fact was, regular twine still held ships just as well as the newest steel, didn't rust, and was a lot cheaper. A callow young man in an ensign's uniform ran up.

"Hi, um, sirs, welcome to Peacekeeping Territory. Um, Miss Simpson, who's normally in charge of tour guides, is sort of busy with the Believers right now- they arrived just an hour prior to you- and um, well, she's, you see... in any case, welcome again. I can show you to your quarters maybe?"

"That would be much appreciated, thank you." I tried to hold back the disgust from my voice. Odd, since normally I would be amused. But oh well. I probably should have let Morgan get off the boat first, but I found it difficult to work up an amount of caring to be concerned about either thing.

After a little bit of asking around at the hotel, I found that the Believers (of course) had just arrived and were still unpacking their bags, and the University and Hive had arrived yesterday. Still no Spartans. That left the Gaians and... that was it. Drat, we should have come earlier. In any case... well, two were better than nothing. I went and planted bugs in their rooms. With their automatic destruction upon touch, and their lack of identifying marks in any case, if found, it would be assumed they were Peacekeeper anyway.

Finally, we went into the main meeting hall, where already parlays and meetings were being furiously held. Miriam and Lal were having a furious little debate while Yang talked to one of Zakharov�s men in another corner. This would be interesting. I did a quick risk assessment, and decided to head over to Yang and the University man.

"Hello. I think Yang knows me here� so, Mr.- Mr. Bortniansky, is it? Yes, I remember some of my Russian pronunciation. Do you think that the system Yang uses will lead to the stifling of new ideas?"

"Um� that depends. If properly administered, there�s no reason it should."

"Do you believe Yang properly administers it?"

"I would hope so."

"How about the governor of Socialism Tunnels?" Yang�s face darkened at this, but before he could say anything, Bortniansky spoke.

"I would assume so as well."

"Well, Sheng-Ji, perhaps you could tell us then why Governor Petyarkin mysteriously disappeared and was replaced five years ago? I�m a little light on the details."

I knew that the Russian name, and the fact that almost surely she had been embezzling Hive funds for her own use, or killing bright political up-and comings to reduce competition, or had done some other similarly dishonorable thing, would provide some interesting dancing from Yang to keep this Bortniansky interested.

"You make it sound sinister. When Chiron is ruled by people who have lived here all their life, the memories of past failures will not be a problem. In any case, Governor Petyarkin was removed because he was not the best man for the job. It is as simple as that. We did not kill him or "re-educate" him. He now works as a harmonious member of society in a position more suited to him."

Bortniansky laughed. "Hopefully, we shall rule forever as gods, us who saw Earth with our own eyes. At least if our current research goes through. That would mean your little vision about there being only native-born people left will hopefully never come to pass."

"Which reminds me," I spoke. "If you could hypothetically kill off all the native-born people you wanted and replace them with equally skilled Chironians, would you do it? You could pick and choose for each person."

Yang seemed to consider for a quarter of second, but he quickly wouldn�t let himself get goaded into my traps of making a completely politically incorrect statement. "That has no possibility of happening without the existence of a God; and I find that proposition highly unlikely at best. How about you?"

Drat. He turned the tables and put a tough question on me while appeasing the University.

"Me? My opinions are irrelevant. However, I think people should be free to be wrong about things. Both of your societies profess to be free of religion; and yet those who openly profess it in the University never seem to get good jobs, and no one seems to profess such in the Hive. Morganite society, while experiencing a religious revival at the moment, always guarantees the right to both be free from religion and have freedom of religion. Now, when all people, not just some of the society, are free to make advances and do things, will not science advance quicker?"

"But in your society, people do what they think they can make the most money doing, not what can benefit everyone else the most. And as a result they all suffer. That will hurt science even more," Yang concluded triumphantly.

"I admit that we had problems similar to that, Chairman Yang. But I think they�ve been mostly ironed out over eighty years."

posted 04-23-99 10:05 PM ET            

"Chairman Yang, you don't seem to be very popular."

"I assume that you refer to our exchange with Mr. Legrand, of the Morgan Delegation?" Yang queried.

"Among others. There seem to be no end of people willing to tell me how horrible you and your people are."

"They see our way of life as a threat. They lash out at what they do not understand. It is a common failing of the ignorant. I am sure that in your long and distinguished career you have seen people speak out against new ideas and new technologies many times. No matter how beneficial an idea may be, there are those who oppose it because it upsets the status quo."

"I think you're trying to frame the issue in such a way that my government is compelled to take your side," Bortniansky grinned.

"I frame the issue that way because it is an analogy with which you can identify. Nevertheless, it is true that the Hive would value a more friendly relationship with the University. Since all of the other factions on Planet have assumed such a hostile posture toward the Hive, we have been forced to direct efforts toward military preparedness that we would rather direct towards more long-term projects, such as pure and applied research. It seems that your strengths would complement our weak areas admirably. I suspect that a similar statement could be made about the University."

"There are those that would agree with you, Chairman, but there are many who are concerned about your government. They say it is oppressive, that it restricts human rights."

"Oppression is in the eye of the beholder, Academician. Would you not feel oppressed if your theories were accepted or rejected based on a referendum of the masses, instead of peer review in an academic journal? It would be oppression to rob the Hive of the government it possesses now - to replace the efficient and harmonious system that the Members have built with something like Lal's ludicrous beurocracy would be a travesty. What is the phrase� 'cruel and unusual punishment'?"

"You have an interesting perspective, Chairman," Bortniansky chuckled, "but I don't expect that many will take your word for it."

"Academician, for those with closed minds, persuasion is more trouble than it is worth. The Hive is devoted to a single central Philosophy. Those who choose to understand our goals and our methods are welcome to become our friends, or even to join us in the Hive. Those who reject it choose to stand alone, or stand against us. It is our belief that history shall judge those that stand with us as wise, and those who oppose us as fools. We feel it is our obligation to present the wisdom of our Philosophy to others, but if they choose to reject it that is their own mistake."

One of the Hive security agents walked up. "I'm sorry to interrupt, Chairman, but there's a communication coming in from the Command Nexus. They say they need to talk to you right away."

"You will forgive me, Academician, but matters of state call."

"I understand perfectly, Chairman. It was a pleasure talking to you."

----------------------------------------

"So, what do you think?"

posted 04-24-99 01:25 PM ET            

The Gaians had arrived at last. Lal announced that the opening "official" ceremonies and debates would start the next morning. The Spartans looked like they were going to be fashionably late, or perhaps boycotting the conference. That would be bad for me, I had waited too long for this chance. In any case, I was just glad that things were going to get started before a mini-war broke out between the sides. It wasn't there yet, but it could get there. Over dinner, Morgan had been explaining to some Believers how Jesus was presented with several "business opportunities" in the wilderness, but he did not accept them since they did not fit with his mission statement. Likewise, he suggested that despite his business-like leanings, he could be trusted for an expanded peace treaty sometime in the future, should the need arise.

I spent a little time after dinner talking with Senators Hobson and Turner, who, while lukewarm to me, definitely seemed to oppose the Hive. Considering their titles, their support of representative government could not have been terribly surprising. I reminded them that the Morganite government still had no official preference on religion, and any time they wanted to commence trading was fine with us.

I decided to take the time to go shake hands with some Gaians before it was time to turn in. Morgan had seemed to be avoiding them, so I figured that I was roughly our only hope for some at least speaking relations.

"Hello? I'm afraid I don't know your name. I'm Alasair Legrand."

A cold stare is all I received at first. "I'm Cynthia Williams. What do you want?"

My, she was impudent. And young, too. She has probably spent all her adult life being indoctrinated to Gaian philosophies, and maybe she was even born here and she really was only 20 years old from the look of her. That would be odd to send such a young one here, though. Nah, the Gaians probably have good wrinkle-cream and she's a ninety year old.

"Just to talk. You should know that Morgan wishes only peace with you, not war."

"I may not know much about your society, but I do know that you are evil polluters who have disrespected the Planet. You will regret that one day. Until you turn from that course, no lasting peace will ever be possible." She started to turn away in disgust. Drastic action was called for.

"Perhaps because we do not know how to be so "nice" to this Planet. Did you ever consider that?"

She turned back. "What?"

I continued. "We have research going into studying the Planet and how to treat it with respect of course, but it's probably no where near what you have. Now, you said yourself that we'd have to change for you to respect us. Well, until we can figure out how to profitably run an economy that's both green and lucrative, there's no way that Morgan will agree to do so. Now, if you agree to help us "help ourselves," if you really think it will, then you will give us your advanced technology. And in return, we will promise to try it out. That way you can "conquer" us without any bloodshed. Sound good?"

"I am quite surprised to hear a Morganite make such a sweeping offer. Uh, I have no authority to deal, but how would we know that you wouldn't just take the technology and run?"

"Because if we decide to continue on our oh-so-evil free market ways, I have a feeling that those technologies won't be of much use to us anyway. Though they will help us run even a free-market economy cleaner, worst comes to worst. So you see, if you really want to fight pollution, it is your duty to share all your techniques for that with everyone."

She seemed stumped for a moment, and then came back, almost angry that she had been "tricked" with a "No! Only in the short term. Pollution is Planet's way of punishing you and insuring our eventual triumph over everyone else. Pollute at your own risk; we won't help you fight it, and when Planet comes for you afterwards in revenge, we'll sit by and laugh. Don't try and get us to help you avoid your punishment by Planet."

"Perhaps. But that argument applies only if we take the technology and run. If we do switch to becoming a greener society, then my original argument holds true. In any case, if Morgan approves this deal, I'm sure we could offer you some "consideration" in return... such as help at the Planetary Council tomorrow? Or perhaps a technology or two of our own? Think about it. That is all for now."

posted 04-24-99 09:12 PM ET            

"Good to be back, Drew"

"...and Corey LePaz."

"Glad to be here."

"Let's get down to business, shall we gentlemen?" asked Drew Harrison, who's excellent hair and rich baritone voice made him the top political newsman in the business. "Planetary Governor, who's hot and who's not?"

"Well Drew," Bernie began, "Pravin Lal is obviously a force to be reckoned with. He was the first to declare, and has a lot of support all over Planet. A lot of people see him as a non-controversial choice. They figure he couldn't do any harm."

"A lot of people do feel that way, Drew," Corey chimed in, "but the Believer and Peacekeeper war left a bitter taste in a lot of mouths. And there are a lot of people who remember how he was slow to send in the troops, even when the Believer militia had already taken ground. A lot of people feel there's nothing behind all his diplomacy, they think he's all talk."

"Corey has an excellent point there, Drew, which is why I feel this race is still wide open, despite Lal's early lead in the polls. I expect that to disappear once we get some other candidates in the race."

"So where are these other candidates?" asked Drew.

"That's a good question," Corey answered, "there are a couple of hot prospects out there, but they all have problems of their own. Dierdre Skye is popular in some corners, but some people think here extreme environmentalist agenda might alienate some factions. It also seems that Skye, Zakharov, and Lal are somewhat reluctant to run against each other. Their factions had been somewhat close recently, but we've already seen the beginnings of a split. The University and Gaia's Stepdaughters recently cancelled their treaty, and a lot of analysts think that may be a prelude to hostility, despite claims to the contrary by both governments."

"The race for Planetary Governor is likely to be a wedge issue between several factions," Bernie opined. "Most people had Zakharov himself sitting on the sidelines for this one, but lately several factions have been making overtures. Several sources who have spoken to me on condition of anonymity have said that Yang has all but thrown his support into Big Z's corner."

"Hold up there, Bernie, I've got sources too, and it takes a lot more than a few conversations at a cocktail party to say that Yang will be supporting ANYBODY in this race. The Hive has been the biggest opponent to any centralized government, many were surprised that they even showed up at all."

"Some might think that Hive support was more of a curse than a blessing," Drew hypothesized. "I can just imagine the headlines in the New Jerusalem Word if the two of them got together."

"That's right, Drew, and that would put CEO Morgan in a tight spot, too. Relations with the Lord's Believers and Morgan Industries have been rather strained lately, especially since the whole flap over the removal of Walter Geller as head of Morgan Metagenics. The Believers weren't too keen on genetic engineering as it was, but the sex scandal on top of it was almost too much for them to bear," Bernie explained.

Corey continued the line of thought: "If this did turn into a race between Lal and Zakharov, though, the Believers would be angry no matter who won."

"I'm surprised that CEO Morgan isn't running his own campaign by now," cut in Bernie. "But he seems to be playing this one from the sidelines. Several of my sources have told me that the inimitable Alasair Legrand has been putting on quite a performace down there in UN Headquarters, too. He's definitely been putting himself in the spotlight more than we've seen in almost fifteen years. If CEO Morgan were in it to win, he'd probably have Grant McFadden from Morgan Advertising Concepts down there, handling them like an old pro, rather than Legrand, who has a reputation as a nuts and bolts operator."

"Corey, what do you make of the fact that Santiago still hasn't arrived at the Council meeting?"

"That's a tough one, Drew. Speculation has ranged from an attempt to nuke UN Headquarters to take out all the opposition at one time to a flat tire on the rover taking her in. It's my business to figure out what people are thinking, Drew, but Santiago's got me stumped."

"I'm going to have to agree with Corey on that one, Drew. The Spartan Federation is conspicuous in their absence, and nobody is quite sure why."

"Well, it will certainly be interesting. Bernie, Corey, I hope you'll come back and share your insights with us again."

"Sure thing, Drew," answered Bernie.

"Any time," Corey concurred.

posted 04-24-99 10:05 PM ET            

While attending such debates, Regalis was surprised at how all of the factions present, with the exception of the repulsive Believers, seemed to be �courting� the University vote. This was true even of the Morganites, and it was decided that this was definitely to the University�s advantage. It was also decided that the University�s delegates were to �remain silent� as to whom the University would support, IF it was to be a faction other than itself. Hopefully, that would keep the other factions guessing what the University intentions were.

One thing that troubled Regalis was the fact that, within the University, a dichotomy of opinion had developed with regard to the Human Hive. A majority of people disapproved of the Hive and pointed out that becoming friendlier with them would mean alienating the Peacekeepers and maybe even the Gaians. The Hive would probably also seek to �modify� both the democratically leaning government and the Green economy of the University, both concepts of which it decried as dysfunctional and absurd. Many even accused the Hive of being a dystopia, rather than the paradise it claimed to be. However, there was a vocal minority who pointed out that the Hive was militaristically powerful and could easily be steered to adopt a more pro-knowledge stance. Some also claimed that the Hive, despite its geographical distance, could be a more valuable friend than either the Peacekeepers or the nearby Gaians, but that was highly questionable. In all probability, Regalis was just being paranoid, as the Hive was hardly a major election issue, especially as it was a matter of foreign, not domestic, policy. Regalis took a deep breath and entered the meeting hall�

-----------------------------

Regalis and Senator Turner were �discussing� religion with a Believer, a Mr. William Matthews. The discussion had begun as coldly polite, but it was quickly becoming quite heated and the more voices were raised, the more the other factions� delegates listened in. Lal, apparently concerned that the �discussion� would turn ugly, had moved in two security guards to the room, but had taken no other action.

��Your asinine viewpoint and beliefs are the only blasphemy here � blasphemy against humanity itself!� Turner sneered. �The idea that there could be some sort of trans-universal being is utterly ludicrous, and it denies mankind the credit it deserves by attributing everything to the �will of God.��

�On the contrary, it does not; the concept of God benefits humanity. It gives us a center and a purpose, as well as hope,� Matthews retorted. �Your science has given nothing but destruction and chaos. Just look back at Earth, with its weapons and wars. Those nuclear weapons that destroyed humanity were the product of science, as was all the biological weapons and all the other so-called tools.�

�That is ridiculous. Science is the sole means by which humanity has to rise above chaos and disorder,� Regalis said. �Without science, mankind would not have managed to get here, to Alpha Centauri. The truth of science not only is incontrovertible, but it provides more hope than religion does. The idea that mankind can continually increase and refine its ability to understand and manipulate the universe to its advantage, to help itself out of any energy crises or viral outbreaks, to increase the standard of living ��

�Religion offers the hope of eternal salvation! That is a much greater hope than a larger gross national product is or a higher per capita income is. This life is merely transitory, a test to see who is worthy of entering into heaven,� Matthews answered.

�Yes, and only those who have been denied the intelligence gene on their sixth chromosome have a chance of entering your heaven,� laughed Turner. �Have you seen any of the surveys at all? Those who have religion in this day and age are far less likely of having an intelligence gene than those who do not.�

At this point, Lal decided that enough was enough, and announced that there was to be an early dinner, that was ready immediately. Regalis was somewhat embarrassed at how the University was involved in a situation that could have been the first altercation of the conference, but the scientifically invalid notions of the Believers could not stand unchallenged�

-----------------------------

Although the Spartans had still not arrived, the opening ceremonies had begun as the University�s friend, the Gaians, had arrived, albeit rather lately. That morning had opened with a performance of �The Enchanted Forest� by Francesco Geminiani, which was followed by the first opportunity the press, of any faction, had of asking the delegates questions, as the press was otherwise banned from the conference. Formalized debates followed lunch, but these were not as impressive as some of the unofficial conversations that had been held earlier at the meeting hall.

When the day was finished, Zakharov had decided to meet with the other University officials present to discuss all of the events that occurred to date. When the six of them were seated at a circular table located in Zakharov�s suite, Zakharov began the discussion.

�My friends, there is much that has occurred here in the UN Headquarters, and, thus, there is much we need to discuss, especially as the Council is about to begin. First, we need to address what, if anything, should be done about the Believers. Secondly, we need to find ways of strengthening our relationship with the Gaians, as they are our traditional friends and our main trading partners. Finally, we must address the issues concerning our relationship with the Hive. Of we are to become remotely tolerable of them, we find a way to be so without estranging our other friends, the Peacekeepers.�

Klyuchevsky responded first. �Well, one very simple way by which we could weaken the Believers and strengthen our relationship with the Gaians and even the Hive � without alienating the Peacekeepers � would be to take a stronger public stance against Morgan. Consider this idea for a moment. The Morganites are the only friends of the Lord�s Believers, and, consequently, anything we do to make Morgan look like an ignoramus would reflect back on our dear friend Miriam. Then there is the fact that Gaia�s Stepdaughters detest the Morganites. Deirdre Skye herself informed Zakharov of how furious she was at how the Morganite free market system was beginning to �infect� the Believers. As for the last issue, that of the Hive, well, Morgan and Yang are still mad at one another over that Kendra Riviera fiasco of forty years ago. If we could come up with a way to publicly discredit Morgan, in such a way that would not provoke a dissolution of our treaty, of course, many of these issues would be well on their way to resolution.�

After a long pause, Bortniansky�s eyes glistened. �That is an excellent suggestion, and I have the perfect as to how that could be accomplished. If we could produce a bug and say it was planted in the University suites, and also produce evidence that was not a Peacekeeper but rather a Morganite bug, planted by Morganite agents before anyone�s arrival, including their own��

�But how would that benefit us? All that would do would harm Morgan and embarrass the Believers; it would in no way assist us,� Hobson questioned.

�If we, after protracted debate and controversy, decided to maintain our treaty with the Morganites, that would make us look like benevolent victims, eager for peace,� Regalis smiled. �However, the strained relations with Morgan would give us an excuse to move even closer to the Gaians, who would undoubtedly have great sympathy for us, being the victim of capitalist dogs.�

Turner liked the way this was heading. �Yes, and it would also make both the Peacekeepers and the Hive more sympathetic towards us. Lal would be furious at Morgan for his treachery, especially as it occurred during his Council, while he would praise us for not denouncing our peace treaty. The Hive, on the other hand, would probably also feel bad for us, as it has had its own problems with Morgan agents.�

Zakharov�s was the only dissenting voice. �That is an exceptional idea except for the fact that Morgan would know the truth, and his elaborate intelligence networks would probably attempt revenge��

posted 04-25-99 06:43 PM ET            

When Hugo Trask approached the microphone, a number of cameras sprang to life, and he knew that what he said was likely to be seen on the news this evening. "Ladies and gentlemen of the press," he began. "Today is a grave day. Today, I announce that I am filing suit with the Judicial Panel against Morgan Industries, Inc., for Breach of Contract�", a murmur went through the crowd of reporters, "�Joined with a suit against Morgan Security Ltd. for Violation of its Charter, both of which are joined with a suit against Alasair Legrand demanding payment for pain and suffering endured by my clients, Mr. Joseph Gomez and his wife, Mrs. Jessica Sebastian-Gomez. Mr. Gomez was one of the Original Signatories of the Morgan Industries Residence Agreement, which, among other things, guaranteed the right to a fair trial before imprisonment and the right to be represented by whatever legal counsel the accused could afford. Mr. Gomez has been the victim of harassment by Morgan Security Ltd. for many years. Officers of this corporation have made false arrests of my client 17 times since Planetfall, and have never once offered even a shred of evidence to support their fantastic claims." (Trask conveniently neglected to mention that much of the crucial evidence had been found missing, or compromised, or otherwise inadmissible). "Recently, this persecution reached UNPRECEDENTED levels when Mr. Gomez was taken into custody, against his will, with no charges offered, with no opportunity to seek legal representation. Mr. Gomez was forcibly escorted from Mercy Hospital by Alasair Legrand, known to many here as an employee of Morgan Security Ltd. Mr. Gomez' whereabouts are currently unknown, but we all hope and pray that he is merely imprisoned against his will. Our lawsuit alleges that Mr. Legrand, in knowing violation of the Morgan Industries Residence Agreement and acting as an agent of Morgan Industries, did falsely arrest and imprison Mr. Gomez, and deprived him of many commonly recognized human and civil rights. Our lawsuit also alleges that the corporate officers of Morgan Security Ltd. gained knowledge of this action and have failed to take disciplinary action against Mr. Legrand, clearly a violation of clause 77b of the Morgan Security Ltd. Charter. Our lawsuit further alleges that Mr. Legrand is uniquely responsible for this travesty, and should be held financially and criminally liable for the pain and suffering caused to my clients, Mr. Joseph Gomez and Mrs. Jessica Sebastian-Gomez. I have a video clip I'd like to show you, and Ms. Sebastian-Gomez has a few words, and then we'll be happy to answer questions."

A small video panel had unfolded from the podium where Trask was speaking, and a woman in a white nurse's uniform was seen. She was sitting in a chair, and the legend at the bottom of the screen said "deposition - betty kingsford - gomez v legrand - MJP". "So he said�" a voice from off camera interrupted her. "So� Mr. Gomez said 'you can't do this, we have a good legal system', and then that Mr. Legrand said something like 'I am the legal system, you'll tell me what I want or you'll never be heard from again.'" The off camera voice said something. "No, I'm not sure that's exactly what he said, but I think it was pretty clear what he meant." The off camera voice said something else. "Well, he meant that he would be taking Mr. Gomez. Mr. Gomez didn't want to go, but he was going to take him anyway."

The video clip ended, and Mrs. Gomez started talking. She was wearing far too much makeup, which became dreadfully obvious as she began to cry. "I don't think it's right that they can just do this to people. I want to stand up and say 'that's wrong, you can't just take people.' I want to let people know that this kind of thing can happen to them, that if they don't stand up and say that this isn't right, then it WILL happen to them. But most of all, I just want my Joey back. Please. I want my Joey back!"

Trask put his hand on her shoulder, and tried to comfort her. "You'll have to forgive her," he explained to the press, "this whole ordeal has been an intense emotional strain. Do you feel up to taking a few questions, Jessica?"

"Yes," she replied, weepily.

"Mr. Trask! Mr. Trask! This is the first case ever brought about the Residence Agreement. What do you think your chances are?"

"I think our chances are very good. I know that the good people here who will make up our jury find these sorts of Gestapo tactics unacceptable. Until I had heard Ms. Sebastian-Gomez' sad story, I had assumed that Morgan Industries felt the same way. This is a sad day for all of us, but I'm hoping that by filing this lawsuit we can send a wakeup call to the people, and that we can put an end to these erosions of our liberty."

The press conference continued in a similar vein.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"So, do you really think it's going to work?" Stevens asked.

"I don't know," Trask replied honestly. "But they are sure going to be upset about the bad press, especially in the middle of the Planetary Council. I can keep this up as long as you can afford it."

"Don't worry about that," Stevens confided, "my backers are very interested in this, and they have DEEP pockets."

"Well, to deep pockets then," Trask said, offering Stevens a drink, "cheers."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Do you think there's anything to it?" asked Pravin Lal's assistant Lloyd.

"Chairman Yang thought I would," Lal pondered. "I don't like it. I don't like it one bit. I guess we're going to have to wait and see. I sure hope that Morgan says something about it at the press conference."

posted 04-25-99 11:36 PM ET            

"Religion offers the hope of eternal salvation! That is a much greater hope than a larger gross national product is or a higher per capita income is. This life is merely transitory, a test to see who is worthy of entering into heaven," Matthews answered.

"Yes, and only those who have been denied the intelligence gene on their sixth chromosome have a chance of entering your heaven," laughed Turner. "Have you seen any of the surveys at all? Those who have religion in this day and age are far less likely of having an intelligence gene than those who do not."

Lal motioned for them to break it up, but I decided to run in play mediator. "Senator Turner, have intelligent people been religious before? Are there intelligent religious people now?"

He sneered at the attempt. "Only in a minority against a huge minority."

"Well, back in the Middle Ages, atheist intelligent people were a minority against a huge believing majority of intelligent people who became scholarly priests who held what knowledge was left after the fall of Rome. So is what a majority believe indicative of what is correct always?"

"We are slightly more advanced than-"

"And if, God forbid, some sort of religious revival takes place a hundred years from now when they are more advanced then us now, then you will admit that you were wrong?"

"That will never happen."

I turned to Mr. Matthews. "You don't escape either. With science and technology, can not more people be brought in contact to the teachings of religion?"

"Yes... that's why God gave them to us."

Turned interrupted here. "We got them ourselves! Why do you have no faith in Man!" I moved a hand signaling him to wait.

"And in fact those very technologies were what enabled Christianity to spread and conquer and evangelize to other peoples in the Ages of Exploration and Imperialism, no?"

"Yes..."

"So is it too much of a stretch to say that God supports technology?"

"Well, not really."

"And if the techniques used by the University better create technology, then what is wrong with them doing God's will?"

"Because they're doing it for the wrong reason, and because they're breaking half of God's laws in the process."

Well, maybe I wasn't that successful. But I tried.

posted 04-26-99 05:03 PM ET            

Hmm.. this could either be a public-relations disaster or a coup for us. Time to insure it came out right. My damage control teams had reported the information I needed, and I had already recieved permission to face the entire Council in "an important matter."

"Dear members of the Council, I have terrible news to report today from Morgan Industries. I am sure that most of you are familiar with the situation that has been alleged, and Pravin Lal, in his wisdom, has seen hit to allow me, myself, to speak. In any case, it seems an act of espionage of the highest degree has occured. A spy, from who knows where, has recently infiltrated Morgan Industries dressed as myself." Interesting looks of incredulity were recieved from the audience. "We have tried to keep this information quiet, but it is now out in the open, where perhaps it should have been from the beginning. I see from the skeptical look on your faces that you believe that a Morgan Industries official such as myself would carry out such a violation of the divine rights of man. Well, let's first examine this log of Morgan Headquarters, guarded by our vigilant guards. They log every person who enters the building, even Mr. Morgan himself, and you can see that I was listed as coming in at 9:00 and not leaving until 7:30 that day. But couldn't you have dummied the log, you say? The answer is, bluntly, no. We have security videotapes of the entrance as well. It's showing on the viewscreen behind us right now. If anyone sees me, tell us, because it will be news to us. Full copies of the date in question will soon be available to all of you to insure that there's no moving spot of discolored walls where I'm supposed to be; I can give you my word of honor, and that of the entire Morgan personell in the area, that this tape is genuine. And oh yes, people who work with me will testify that I never left the office the whole day. And to all the people who are desperate to have a conspiracy left, I literally couldn't have exited out the side door, which has only a guard, who, I'll remind you, didn't see my leave either, but in any case, to reach the side door from my office would have required me to walk through hordes of office people, none of whom remember me. And considering that we allegedly couldn't cover up one nurse attendant who heard incriminating phrases, it's obvious that Morgan Industries, with its tradition of fair play, couldn't and wouldn't "cover up" entire roomfulls of government workers." I left out an important detail here, but no matter. "The falsities of this conspiracies become even more apperant with a closer look at what happened. The director of the Hospital reports me acting quite unusually, and taking a fairly simple case and using it as an excuse to transfer poor Mr. Gomez to some "military hospital" that doesn't exist. Furthermore, the scientist who provided the excuse for the removal to a military hospital dissappeared mysteriously after the incident. It's obvious that the scientist, a Mr. Ojeda, was working with the fake version of me, who wasn't even recognized by the nurse at the front desk I might add. Considering how much I'm in the news these days, that would certainly indicate that it was someone who looked only sort of like me, no? There are lots of witnesses to all of this. We've explained all this to Ms. Gomez, and she, while hesitant, has not dismissied it out of hand. What these two were working for, well, we have suspicions, but we think it was a calculated effort to steal valuable research we've been doing in the field of ecology and mindworms-" I gave a nod to the Gaian group- "and, to embarras Morgan Industries in the eyes of all law-abiding nations of the world. Let me just say right now that our commitment to Englightenment principles continues unabated by this vicious slander, and we shall work to build a better Chiron with you. In the meanwhile, if evidence comes forward who did this vile deed, let me assure you that we will help the faction that gives us this evidence our full support against the vile spying faction."
-----------------------
Not from the Memoirs

Lal had a funny look on his face. How did Yang know about the Gomez incident before it even came out? Legrand hadn't explained why this faction kidnapped Gomez, but he did have some evidence now... and it was a great oppurtunity to use this incident as a means of getting rid of the scrouge of dictatorships from the world... maybe. Maybe he would reveal his evidence. Maybe he would do it right now.
------------------------
Two out-of-the-loop workers near "a certain medical facility I know that the government runs"

"We're supposed to move him down to the docks without being seen."

"Why?"

"I don't know. He isn't even sailing anywhere. He's just going to sail around and come back."

posted 04-26-99 09:18 PM ET            

A murmer of agreement went around the council-chamber. Lal spoke up. "Chairman Yang, you spoke to me of this incident before it became common knowledge. I believe that you have more information, and I demand that you reveal both the substance and the source of it to this council immediately."

"My good doctor, as I explained to you several nights ago, I did not come forward as I felt that this was an internal affair. I learned of this incident through the Hive's extensive intelligence network. Certain parties within Morgan Industries revealed this information to me. I cannot be more specific without endangering their lives, if the allegations against Mr. Legrand and Morgan Security Ltd. are to be believed."

The answer didn't seem to please Lal, but it was a believable enough story. Not many people would have the gall to admit to active espionage as Yang just had. Lal had his own people working on digging into the investigation, but they hadn't gotten anywhere yet.

"Mr. Morgan," continued Yang, "Mr. Legrand has wasted much of the council's valuable time with this rather dubious account of the events in question. I trust that you had more in mind that simply to put on a show for the cameras. Are you requesting the assistance of the council in investigating this matter? Judging from the 'evidence' that you have presented here today, it seems questionable whether your own personnel are up to the task."

--------------------------------------------

The back of Trask's hand connected with Jessica's cheek in a vicious slap, which only made her cry harder. "Dammit, Jessie!" Trask screamed. "What did I say?! You never talk to ANYONE unless I'm there! Do you understand me? Do you understand me?!"

"Yes," she squeaked.

"You know this is important. Do you want HIM mad at you? Do you?"

"I'm sorry," she sobbed, "I made a mistake."

"HE doesn't care whether you did it on purpose or not, he just cares that you're not helping the case. The whole reason you never talk to anybody without me is because I'm supposed to STOP you from making mistakes."

"I'm sorry," she said weakly, "it won't happen again."

"It better not. Look, I don't want to be rough on you, but these are dangerous people we're dealing with. They're not going to just YELL at you, understand? You know what kind of people your husband dealt with. You don't want to make them mad."

"No," she conceded. Trask handed her his hankerchief to clean herself up.

"Now, remember, when in doubt, you ask me. Alright?"

"Alright," she agreed. After a pause, "Mr. Trask? Do you think what he said is true? Could it really have been an imposter? Where's my Joey?"

"This whole imposter story is like a bad episode of 'the InvestiGators'" he said. "We'll get your husband back, Jessie."

"Thank you, Mr. Trask. I'm sorry I screwed up. It won't happen again."

posted 04-27-99 07:41 PM ET            

"I learned of this incident through the Hive's extensive intelligence network. Certain parties within Morgan Industries..."

"Yeah, play that about once every half-hour," I told George Parsons, programming chief of Morgan 3D-Link. "We're almost done my little statement here to the people of Morgan Industries. Make sure you contrast them- keep the Hive thing unedited to avoid accusations, but make me look angelic with a little glow around my head, okay? You�re the best at it; keep it up."

We resumed our proceedings. "You can now see the sworn affidavits that I never left the side door, and the full videotape of the front door, online at morgan.gov. I ask that all citizens with any doubt about the matter look at them. Mrs. Gomez, I promise you, we�re going to find who�s responsible for this, and we�re going to get your husband back. We�re on your side!"

"Okay, that one was good. We�ll splice it with the rest for the full statement, but that clip at the end will probably be the most used." It was good we had brought along a camera-man and equipment.

I had already pointed out to the council that "Chairman Yang, I�m afraid that you have offered absolutely no new evidence, merely an admission that you are spying on us, and unless you�re willing to "compromise" these people who are illegally working in Morgan Industries territory and have them show some actual evidence, we can only assume that you�re making it up to discredit us. In fact, you used that very same logic yourself to say that "we can hardly accept what you say at face value." Now, if you wish, Hive, Peacekeeper, and any other experts may examine the tapes we provided to check for tampering. And we can also make available witness statements of vendors on the streets who saw no one leaping out of windows to escape the notice of the guards. I think that all nations- well, most of them, we hope- agree on the principle of "innocent until proven guilty," and right now we have incontrovertible evidence that, on the contrary, proves me innocent, when by burden of both UN and Morganite law we don�t even have to do so. I think we should be more concerned over who has been spying on us, and why they were dressed up as me and trying to kidnap a Morganite citizen as well as valuable research data."

That was then. I had already transmitted a message back to the Ministry of Internal Security to check every possible trail leading to the Gomezes, and more importantly, Trask and his staff. If there was one hint of strange money or political connections on Trask, it was going to be all over the news. That�s because star reporter Bernie Hampton had a "contact" who always seemed to have some good tidbits. Ms. Gomez would be dealt with much lightlier- she was going to be our friend.
--------------------------------------
Not from the Memoirs

posted 04-27-99 08:47 PM ET            

�I, the Council Parliamentarian of the Council of Planet, am pleased to begin the second meeting of the first session of the Council of Planet on Mission Year 2180.68453. Today, before we review the rules of the elections for the position of Planetary Governor, the University of Planet has requested to be permitted to make an official statement concerning the Council meeting of yesterday, and as I have granted them the permission to do so, Academician Prokhor Zakharov of the University of Planet now has the floor.�

Zakharov stood up and began. �Thank you, Council Parliamentarian. As the Parliamentarian has indicated, the University delegation, on behalf of the entire government and people of the University of Planet, wanted to comment on the issue that consumed the Council session of yesterday. This �issue� concerned an internal Morganite matter that involved the Morganite Minister Alasair Legrand and a domestic Morganite lawsuit in which he was named as one of the defendants. In response to this lawsuit, Legrand presented the first factional speech of this Council in the history of the universe, in which he presented an explanation of his alleged activities, and it is of this action that the University will now comment on. We want to protest the fact that Morgan Industries was indulged to make the first factional speech over such a frivolous and, frankly, laughable domestic affair that was not under the scrutiny of this Council nor in any way relevant to the Council proceedings. It was inappropriate for Morgan Industries to present that speech before this body, especially, as I said, it concerned such a comical subject that had nothing to do with anything that had any bearing on this Council. If Alasair Legrand or Morgan himself wanted to inform the other factions of Legrand�s alibi, the appropriate method to accomplish this would have been to deliver written statements detailing the alibi to the individual delegations of this Council, but outside of the Council itself. Now I am not commenting on the validity or lack thereof of Alasair Legrand�s alibi, but the first day of the first session of the Planetary Council was neither the time nor the place for such a spectacle, and the University of Planet, for one, objects to the Morganite presentation of yesterday.�

posted 04-27-99 09:39 PM ET            

The parliamentarian cleared his throat and read the proposal: "It shall not be in order do discuss any matter that does not relate to the interfactional affairs of two or more factions represented by members of this Council. This rule shall be waived and it shall be in order to discuss the internal affairs of a particular faction only if 1) The representative of that faction makes an explicit written request to the Council that the matter be addressed, and 2) The majority of the representatives of the council vote in favor of hearing the matter." The Parliamentarian continued. "In keeping with the rules of this Council, this matter shall be tabled pending the matter currently before the Council, the matter of the election of a Planetary Governor. If this session of the Council should end before consideration of Councilmember Yang's proposal is considered, than then that matter will be placed first on the agenda at the next meeting of this Council. Are there any objections to proceeding in this fashion? No? Then are there any further responses to the statement made by the gentleman from the University of Planet?"

---------------------------------------------

Before the councilmeeting that day, Yang met privately with Lal. "Chairman, you know more than you are saying about this Gomez affair. I'm very troubled by it."

"Doctor, my statement to the Council stands. I could not reveal these persons without endangering their lives. If, however, you were prepared to put the weight of your faction's government behind protecting these individuals from retribution by Morgan or his agents, perhaps something could be arranged."

"I'll offer them sanctuary here. I give you my personal guarantee that they will be safe."

posted 05-14-99 04:28 PM ET            

Location: U.N.S. Unity, Cryobay #6
Time: 144 hours before Planet-fall

The electronic orders had been sent out to all remaining functioning cryocells: ***Emergency Revival Sequence Activation***
Unfortunately for the occupant of cryocell UNSU7-022251-BZ, this unit was assembled in Morgan Conglomerate Industrial Park #10, a notorious sweatshop squeezing extra profits from shoddy materials, safety violations, child labor and overworked and under-trained workers. The Quality Control inspector without running the specified diagnostics on its automated "wake-up" module passed this particular unit. The module silently failed at the time of the meteor collision. The occupant slept on during the last evacuation of Unity.

Location: 100 kilometers above Chiron
Time: 1 minute before impact

Cryobay #6 was ripped off the main U.N.S Unity structural framework by the resisting drag of Chiron's upper atmosphere. The atmospheric friction flash heated the hull causing it to open like a banana peal scattering a tail of debris and thousands of mostly empty cryocells. Cryocell UNSU7-022251-BZ was the last one to be torn from the pod and in a freak of angular momentum lost much of its re-entry energy before it hit the surface of an ocean at such a low angle that it skipped across the surface like a flat stone: SPLASH Splash splash splash splashsplashsplash splashsplash splashsplash. Just as it was about to loose momentum and sink it skidded ashore, plowed a steaming rut through xenofungus destroying a mind worm boil in the process. The cryocell came to rest flush against the plastic airlock of a temporary pressurized-dome that automatically deployed as part of Unity's emergency supplies. This last jolt kick started the wake up module of the cryocell, its cover opened dumping the occupant directly into the airlock, which automatically closed and sealed itself. The dazed occupant rolled onto his back trying to figure out where he was. It took him a while to realize that things had not gone according to the preflight brochures.
"Sheeeeesh, if I didn't have bad luck I wouldn't have no luck at all!" declared jsorense to no one in particular.

[Present Day]

Locations: Hommel's Citadel, frontier free zone

posted 05-14-99 10:55 PM ET            

�Yes, Christine. I am just outside the hallway to the entrance of the hotel where the delegates to the Council are staying.�

�Do we have any idea what the speech will be on?�

�No, actually not really. We know that the Academician is delivering the address from the University suites in the hotel. He�ll almost certainly discuss ��

Robert Ballard was cut off by the on-screen presentation of the Symbol of the University of Planet, during which a background voice introduced Zakharov. The Symbol disappeared off screen, replaced be Zakharov, who was sitting in a semblance of his Media Presentation Room back at University Base. Dressed in the most formal of University attires, to a Believer he might have as a horror figure.

�To the citizens of the University of Planet, I, Academician Zakharov, greet you. Tonight, on the eve of the commencement of the elections for the Planetary Governor, there are many questions to be asked and facts to be analyzed. What does the future hold for the University of Planet? Who will be elected to the position of Planetary Governor, and what powers will he or she have? Then there are, of course, the lingering questions � what affect will the Council have on University society? Will our political structure be replaced be a planetary supergovernment? Is the new age that potentially lies ahead of us to be filled with erudition and knowledge or fear, impoverishment and incognizant blindness?

�Before we look to the future, let us reflect upon the past. Since our arrival on this planet, we have labored to create and establish a perfect civilization, a national culture in which the pursuit of science is unrestrained and the acquisition of knowledge is valued above all else, and our success in accomplishing our goals in utterly unparalleled. Our labor has produced a lasting civilization�

��Let us now move on to the issue of the Planetary Council and its potential affects upon our great nation. It is undeniable that its very existence poses serious risks to us. Bringing the factions of humanity together into a single international body actually increases the chances of wars, especially as the Council has not been designed to serve in any function in any resolution of any interfactional disputes. Another risk exists in the position of the Planetary Governor, as whichever faction is elected will have relatively uncertain powers via the new planetary bureaucracy, which probably would be used in intolerable manners should one of the more unscrupulous factions be elected. However, the Faculty and the Senate are both convinced that these latent risks are very minor in relation to the might of the University of Planet, and should an enemy of the University be elected, I assure you that the security of our nation will not be jeopardized. Specifically, if the Lord�s Believers win the election, you can be confident in the knowledge that University research shall continue unabated.

�It is exceedingly unlikely, however, that the Believers will be elected, especially as they are comparatively diplomatically isolated. Who, aside from their satellite state of Morgan Industries, would stoop to vote for them? ��

-----------------------------------------

M.Y. 2180: The Subcommittee of Foreign Affairs of the Legislative Senate of the University of Planet.

While Zakharov was making a speech to the public of the University, Regalis was watching the proceedings within the Subcommittee of Foreign Affairs via government networks. The Subcommittee was having a debate over the recent diplomatic overtures made to the University by the Hive�s Council delegation, and at this particular moment, two Senators, Mussorgskiev and O�Donnell, were having a formal �one on one� debate before the other Senators.

��Nevertheless,� Mussorgskiev interrupted, �The Hive is unwilling to tolerate alternative forms of governments. If the University of Planet was ever to become a true friend of the Hive, we would most certainly have to adopt many of the significant aspects of the Hive Philosophy.�

�There is no reason to believe that,� O�Donnell countered. �The Human Hive is so strong in its rhetoric because it has no friends, nobody to alienate. If we were to make it clear from the beginning that we were unwilling to modify our bureaucracy ��

�How do you know that �we� aren�t willing? Zakharov and the other Faculty Academicians may very well be perfectly willing to dissolve the Legislative Senate to serve their own purposes. If the democratic Senate were dissolved, its legislative functions could be taken over by the Faculty�s puppet, the University Body, or even the Faculty itself.�

�Mussorgskiev, your paranoid accusations will get us nowhere. If the Faculty ever conjured up such a preposterous plan, the citizens would revolt. Besides, such a plan would have to be preceded by a government seizure of the free media and the Faculty somehow obtaining complete control of the military. That is something that could only happen if the Senate willingly gave up its partial control, which is an event that I, for one, cannot see. Clearly, it is outside the realm of possibility that the Senate could be dissolved simply by improved relations with the Hive,� O�Donnell responded.

�Even if that is true, and I�m not saying it is,� Mussorgskiev frowned, �it is undeniable that our relations with the Peacekeeping Forces would suffer, maybe even become antagonistic. Despite the fact that the Hive may be militaristically powerful, it is not nearly as wealthy as the Peacekeepers, and as such the Hive would not be as valuable an economic partner. Then there is the matter of what the Believers� reaction would be��

The debate continued in a similar vein.

----------------------------------

Kristina Gallin was pleased with her progress in infiltrating the UN Headquarters base. Her superiors in the Order of the Black Rose had given her secret assistance in appearing as a tourist from UN Haven City, and, due to the Lord�s blessings, had managed to even obtain a room in the same hotel the delegations were.

posted 05-15-99 02:08 PM ET            

Colonel Stark had been on training maneuvers with his troops nearby when he got the call to get to Society Grid as soon as was feasible. When Stark did arrive, however, there was little more that could be done. The worms had done their damage and disappeared from whence they came. Stark had his troops re-man the defenses until replacement troops could arrive to staff the garrison again. Stark thought that this was the worst worm attack he had ever seen. Well, maybe not the worst�

In 2032, the Boogey-man's Believers had landed in a particular desolate and fungus infested corner of Hive territory. They quickly established a rudimentary base called "Far Jericho", and their troops "defended" it by attacking Sergeant Stark's recon expedition. Stark had escaped with a few of his troops, and joined in on the counterattack when reinforcements arrived, but by that time the Believers had obtained reinforcements as well. The two forces were locked into a stalemate - the Hive couldn't get close enough to attack without the fanatical and suicidal enemy troops breaking their formations and throwing the offensive into disarray, and the Believers couldn't break past the well-manned Hive lines.

In 2172, Major Stark served as a force commander at Far Jericho Observation Point Epsilon when the worms moved on the base. Both the Hive and Believer forces had settled into an uneasy understanding that neither side would be making much headway at Far Jericho, and both sides had substantially reduced the number of forces they had in the area. The Believers had constructed elaborate perimeter defenses, and felt they could hold out against a larger force with less manpower. The worms had other ideas. Boil after boil had poured into the city, and the small garrison was quickly overrun. Then the civilian population experienced things which are better left undescribed. And then the worms, as is their nature, left as suddenly as they appeared. Almost eighty percent of the base's population had been killed outright by the worms, and half of those that survived were so horribly psionically traumatized that they could barely communicate, much less seek shelter after the attack had cut out the air recycling systems in their homes.

Most of the base infrastructure had been destroyed. Only one dome was left fully intact, and the people, in their panic, were all trying to get inside, and risked damaging even that one. Stark's superior, unsure of how else the situation should be handled, ordered her forces to move in. After establishing patrols to make sure that the worms wouldn't be returning, the Hive troops tried to get the few civilians that were left to work to repair the base infrastructure so that they wouldn't be killed by the hostile environment. But Believer fanatics thwarted them at every turn. When a terrorist blew up a crawler transporting the materials to erect the emergency field hospital (in the interest of historical accuracy, the crawler was unmarked, so the terrorist didn't realize the magnitude of his mistake), Stark's superior decided that the situation had grown out of hand, and ordered what is colloquially known as "nerve stapling". The Hive forces were able to get the more pacified population to cooperate in the reconstruction of the base.

The Believers tried several times to "liberate" the newly named Watcher's Eye, but by 2075 they realized the futility of an amphibious invasion onto Hive occupied shores. When they relented, the Hive repatriated the majority of the refugees from the Far Jericho disaster, since they could not be properly assimilated into Hive culture, with their deeply held superstitions. Some, however, who had seen the viciousness of the worms' onslaught had conceded that if mindworms were the work of a Divine Creator, they had no desire to be on the Creator's team. The Hive notion that the only thing that can be depended on is the other Members of the Hive was quite popular among these refugees.

posted 05-15-99 05:45 PM ET            

I was waiting in the hotel room with Jeneba doing paperwork and organizing the Gomez affair orders back home when the conversation that triggered the shift in focus came.

"Do you know about the ushering final?"

This was an odd question. "Um� an ushering final? For what? Movie theaters? They pretty much take any warm body." At least in the less modernized ones that don�t have auto-monitoring.

"No, for collecting money in a church."

"Um, Jeneba, you�re an atheist. I think I know more about doing that then you do, and there�s not much to know."

She continued on, ignoring what I said. "You�ve just collected all the money. You walk up to the reverend. And just as you�re about to give the plate to him, you drop it, right on his toe that had just been wounded last week. What do you do?"

That WAS a toughie. "Pick it up really fast and act like nothing happened?"

"Nope. You hit the reverend right in the nose."

"What???" She�s gone off her rocker.

"Well, there are three reasons. First of all, it instantly relieves the pain in the pastor�s foot. Secondly, you feel much better. Thirdly, and most importantly, it takes the attention of the congregation away from the astonishing blunder you�ve just committed."

"Very funny. Are you trying to say something with this?"

"Yes. Pretend the Gomez affair is dropping the collection plate on the minister�s foot."

posted 05-23-99 01:13 PM ET            

Christine sifted momentarily through the reports on her desk. This press conference had taken all the networks by surprise, and as such there hadn�t been the well-prepared, deliberately analytical political commentary that usually accompanied such an event. Of course, the fact that most of the network�s reporters were in UN Headquarters covering the Planetary Council didn�t help either.

�We now take you to the Senatorial Press Room, where Senator Mussorgskiev and apparently two other Senators, Davidson and Hiaun Tsang, are approaching the podium. You should know that if this press conference continues for longer than three hours, we do plan to cut coverage of it in favor of the elections.�

The view switched to that of Senator Tsang taking the podium.

�People of the press, constituents at home,� Tsang greeted. �I am so glad that you are here today to listen to what we have to say. Many of you are undoubtedly interested in knowing the purpose of this press conference, and I promise all of your questions will be addressed, but first, let me present the keynote speaker, Senator Mussorgskiev.� Tsang turned and stepped down.

�Thank you, Senator,� Mussorgskiev took a deep breath. �The three of us, namely Tsang, Davidson and myself, are here today to publicly take issue with the government and society of this University. We have timed this conference to just precede the elections for the Planetary Governor so that Zakharov and his puppets cannot dismiss us out of hand. Hopefully, the other factions will take note of this conference, with the hopeful effect of, frankly, humiliating Zakharov out of his contemptible authoritative fantasies.

�As our complaints strike at the very heart of University society, I am going to reflect back upon the creation of our government and Zakharov�s reasoning and methodology. Many of you remember the early days of our presence here on this planet, and I ask you to recall how, back then, Zakharov was in total control over us. Eventually, however, it became necessary to develop governmental institutions, as the University was becoming too large for one man to control. Thus, Zakharov appointed ten of his friends to become, with himself, the eleven members of the Joint Panel of the Faculty.

�To help aid Zakharov in his regulatory control over the people, two institutions were created � the Departments and the University Body, both under the direct control of the Faculty. The unspoken truth is that the Departments were designed to extend governmental control over the people, while the University Body exists to force a uniform culture of science upon the citizenry of this nation. Most governmental officials, including even a majority of the Senators, want you to believe that the University Body is simply the Faculty�s means of advancing governmental research and development, but nothing could be further from the truth�

�And so we now come to five years after the creation of the Faculty, the year in which the Senate was to be created. As I have said, it became obvious that the Faculty�s pupils, the Savants of the University Body, were incapable of serving in a legislative capacity. As popular unrest with the government became acute, the Faculty came up with the idea to create a governmental establishment that would be outside the collegiate aspects of the University � and so we had the Legislative Senate. As a result, the constitution was appropriately amended and the thorn in Zakharov�s side was born.

�Today, however, the internal bureaucracy of the University Body has been streamlined, and after eighty years of living under Zakharov and the intellectuals, it is doubtful that the citizens would be upset be only being represented by the Ministerial Academicians of the Departments. We face the possibility, right now, that the Senate has outlived its usefulness to the Faculty. We face the chance that the Senate will be dissolved.

�Some would say that that could never happen. They point to the �facts� that�

�All of this is supported by certain diplomatic overtures made to the University delegation to the Planetary Council by Chairman Sheng-ji Yang of the Human Hive.� Mussorgskiev paused here for dramatic effect. �The Hive has taken notice of the potential the University possesses for becoming an undemocratic oligarchy, and it seeks to advance these filthy impulses away from democratic representation. This is intolerable��

�One final point I would like to make regards the current lack of ethical restraints upon the scientific community. May I remind everyone of the genetically engineered virus the Health Administration exposed the public to? Now, I concede that the intention really was to introduce intelligence genes more extensively into the population, but seventy-three people died as a result of viral mutations! The Health Administration, acting with the Faculty�s approval without the knowledge of the Senate, should have been allowed to be under public scrutiny��

When Mussorgskiev finished his speech, Senator Davidson began to take questions from the first reporter.

�Senator Davidson, was the timing of this press conference a deliberate attempt to retard Zakharov�s chances at being elected Planetary Governor, and after such sweeping attacks on society, how do you expect the public to react?�

�To the former question, no comment, but as for the latter question, we hope that the population will support us in our call for change in the University...�

-----------------------------

Christine Mahdy looked towards the 3DVision camera. �We only have one hour before the elections at the Planetary Council begin, but we have already received a repudiation of Mussorgskiev�s statements by Senator Hobson, who is part of the delegation to the Council. That makes a total of twelve Senatorial rebukes on the recent press conference so far. Hobson,� Mahdy quickly skimmed through the document, �has attacked virtually every position Mussorgskiev has taken. He points out that the University Body has never tried to enforce a uniform culture; he notes that the Gaian cults are tolerated in the University� all the Senatorial comments will be examined more closely in �The Political Arena� at nine University Standard Time. Now, let�s go to political commentator James Chisholm at UN Headquarters. James, welcome back from vacation.�

�Glad to be back, Christine.�

�Well, the number one question on everyone�s mind would undoubtedly have to be how will this affect Zakharov�s chances at being elected?�

�Well despite the hopes of the three Senators, it actually probably won�t. Every faction, with the possible exception of the Spartans whom we have yet to contact, has some degree of political dissent. Mussorgskiev did systematically attack everything from Zakharov to the governmental use of idle computers over the networks, but, I understand that already his statements are coming under heavy fire from the other Senators?�

posted 05-23-99 04:46 PM ET            

"Drew, people are still buzzing about the Mussorgskiev press conference. If I'm lucky, I may be able to get a comment from Academician Bortniansky. Academician, Academician!..."

Bortniansky's conversation with Administrator Modell, of the Hive delegation, was interrupted. "Yes?"

"Academician, this is Kent Clarkson for Morganlink 3DVision LIVE! I've got a few questions for you about the Mussorgskiev statement."

"I have no comment at this time," Bortniansky replied.

"And how about you, Administrator? Senator Mussorgskiev said some very unflattering things about the Hive."

"I don't think it's appropriate for me to comment on a University internal matter," Modell responded.

"Actually, I'd be interested in hearing your opinion," Bortniansky put in.

"Well, I obviously can't speak for the entire Hive," Modell cautioned, "but I will make one personal observation. In Senator Mussorgskiev's entire speech, you will notice that he did not make even passing mention of any policy issues of any real importance. It would seem that his primary concern is increasing the power of the Senate, and indirectly his personal power. I have a suspicion that the Senator and his cohorts think of government as an end unto itself, rather than a means to an end. I suspect he is fearful of the Hive because we have demonstrated a streamlined and efficient system of resource allocation, in which there is no place for the parliamentary games that Senator Mussorgskiev likes to play. Any system which is more concerned with WHO makes the decisions rather than whether or not the RIGHT decisions get made is, in my opinion, doomed to failure. Senator Mussorgskiev seems to have the opposite opinion."

"Well, there you have it, Drew," Kent signed off, "It's quite the phenomenon. Speculation is still flying as to whether Zakharov will repond to this statement in his speech before the Council later today..."

posted 05-25-99 11:49 AM ET            

The Peacekeeper guards were on them in a flash.

"I'm sorry Colonel Santiago but you and your men will have to leave your weapons with us for the remainder of the conference."

"Very well, men hand them over."

She glared at the guard lieutenant. He shifted uneasily on his feet.

"I'm sorry Colonel but I'll need your weapon too."

"Would you like to try and take it?"

The lieutenant glanced at Santiago's hip holster and then back at her face,

"No ma'am. I'd like you to hand it over."

Santiago glanced at Rasilon and smiled. Then unstrapped her holster and handed it to the lieutenant.

"What's your name boy?"

The lieutenant bridled at the slight but he had been instructed to keep diplomatic incidents to a minimum.

"Lieutenant Royston, ma'am."

"Well lieutenant, next time you call me ma'am I'll give you my shredder pistol ammunition first, you understand me?"

"Yes ma.... er... Colonel."

"Good, now how do I get to the voting meetings? I don't want to miss any more than I already have."

Legrande picked up his communicator.

"Yes I need to see Morgan, the Spartans have arrived....

I don't know how they got in without our scouts seeing them, the Peacekeepers haven't said anything have they?

I'll get there as soon as I can."

Legrand sat back in his chair. So the Spartans were here, they were bound to try and contact him weren't they? What was Santiago up to? There was a lot to think about and do and not much time until the ballot.

- - - - - - - - - - -

The sign hung at a slight angle to horizontal and the grimy picture could barely be read from a distance. The I Club, established 2165. Proprietor Michael Hefferan. For all your refreshment needs.

No Weapons Allowed.