Chapter 1: Captains and Circumstances
Planet Hawking,
Archology 23,
Geiben’s Quarters,
“GEIBEN! WAKE UP!”
It had been weeks since Geiben had arrived back on Hawking, and it had been months since his dismissal from the military. He had been left with this area of the archaeology, a wide, ocean-facing area that he could configure to his heart’s desires as he waited for some nebulous higher ups to decide what to do with him. There were no visitors during this time, except for the Military Police guards that were stationed out front.
But today was a new day.
Daylight was just starting to come up over the horizon, and Heram Wazu was already standing around, calling out to Geiben after letting himself in through the front door.
Heram himself looked different than normal. He still had the same muted colors before, the now short blackish-brown hair, his colorless grey eyes, simple lean build, and a seeming lack of major pigmentation of the skin. However it was his clothing that would stand out as the major change. Instead of the utilitarian clothing one might expect from an engineer or scientist, he was now wearing something a bit more expensive, perfectly tailored, black suit jacket with a green polo shirt underneath, jet black pants with a fashionable brown belt and shoes. It seemed to be about as formal as one could expect from him.
“HAVE YOU BEEN WATCHING THE NEWS?”
Heram didn’t wait for a response, instead simply pulling a small device out of his suit pocket and connecting to the local displays. Floating projections of the days news stories along with the drone of talking heads would cover the windows that had previously been looking out onto the ocean. They were discussing the upcoming election, the groups that were vying for votes and seats on the executive council, and the odds that a major upset could be on the horizon. There was a buzz of electricity about their words conveying a sense of excitement about something that no one seemed quite ready to spell out.
It was an excitement that even the normally calculating Heram was unable to keep out of his own words.
“The Magnetic Assembly is going to take a majority of the votes in the upcoming election. They’ve already spoken with many of the smaller parties and will be at the head of the coalition government of the executive council.” He spoke with a speed to his words as if he couldn’t wait to get them out, seeming to forget he could speak quite quickly when he wasn’t trying to slow himself down for others, “... I know you are human, and perhaps never felt the pull the same way that those of the Assembly do but I this is the kind of thing you were meant for.”
"It's good to see you too, Mr. Wazu." Geiben yawned, then pulled himself out of bed to meet the sunlight. His home was sparsly decorated, mostly just what he possessed on the Edward Deming when he was still in command: a hanging model sailboat on the wall, a tidy closet of clothes, and a docked data pad on his desk. The Pacifican himself, Earth African in appearance but with a hint of German descent in his rather uncannily blue eyes, was far darker than he was back on the ship, a result of spending ample time swimming along the edge of the beach.
He was much more for, the confines of the space faring vessel and its false gravity replaced by the pristine ocean environment of Planet Hawking. Perhaps that was why Geiben hasn't gone insane despite weeks of isolation.
He stood up, wearing nothing but a pair of green and white striped trunks before throwing on a Hawaiian shirt. "I read the headlines, but I was never one for politics." Geiben walked over to the fridge. "Do you want beer, juice, or vat milk?"
“Unexpected.” Wazu stated, taking a moment to re-gather his thoughts before moving forward.
“No liquids for me.”
Another pause, as the metaphorical gears in his head turned over to another line of thought.
“Early polling is showing the Pro Alliance party having a 60 point drop in the polls. The Magnetic Assembly is picking up nearly all of that representation. They made this election a referendum about how the Alliance runs things, and for the first time people are placing their trust in the machines to run things.” Bubbling excitement was something that just seemed out of place for Heram, perhaps because he did not get much practice with it. “The Assembly supports how you handled things, and the people of Hawking don’t agree with how the Alliance dismissed you.”
There was another pause. A moment of calculation. Then a new approach applied.
“I am leading the transition team, we will advise the executive council on what actions need to be taken to secure this star system during this period and we only have DAYS to figure this all out. When the vote happens things are going to move fast and I want you on my team.”
"Hawking is going independent?" Geiben raised an eyebrow as he poured himself a glass of vat milk. "I'm flattered that the Assembly thinks this way, but…" He considered his conversation with Enid about building a new order. How was the pilot doing anyways? It's been weeks since they last talked.
"... How much time do we have before the system peels away from Alliance protection? I'd like nothing more than to give the people here a better alternative, but Hawking could end up being a second Kiwomia. Without the Alliance name, the Taianese will sure take the opportunity to take control of the system."
“Three weeks until the election. All the major parties are onboard and the speech given the next day will announce our withdrawal from the Alliance. Our job will be to account for every uncertainty so that we don’t find ourselves in the same position as Kiwomia.” Wazu had switched to a very direct look at Geiben, carefully judging his reaction at this point, “That includes such questions as how to deal with the remaining Alliance presence in the system.”
"The Edward Deming." Geiben crossed his arms. "And every other supply ship in the system. That's a lot of assets we're removing that could be used to maintain the system's independence. The captain and the crew as well."
"If the parties are on board, then that surely means they've already done some estimates about the system's capabilities, correct?"
“Nothing concrete. Each area has their own local defenses and there is a general understanding of how to manage things but no grand fleet to protect the system We’ve got the one warship… but the Alliance has mothballed a number of small escorts as well as all of their support ships. Those ships are docked in Hawking space too… along with the Edward Deming.
We have enough drones to keep commerce going in the system, and without having to supply a massive energy and material tithe to the Alliance we are free to start building some very large projects. The local area defenses should also be plenty to hold off anyone with ambition for the time being. Our stockpile of surface-launched anti-ship drones is unmatched.
But first, I need to form a team. Are you in or not?” Heram asked.
"I don't have much of a choice." Geiben gulped down the last of the vat milk. "It'll be difficult to find a job back in the Alliance as a discharged officer with no honors, and an opportunity to do some good and right in front of me. Count me in."
“You always have a choice… and I am glad to have you back. We will get you some additional clothing on the way and what weapons are you rated for?...” Heram was already on the way out the front door, heading into one of the main passageways of the Archology. There were high arched ceilings in this massive hallway that was large enough to support a shuttle flying through.
Near the other side of the hall were the two Alliance MPs, handcuffed and detained.
Green-Thumb was there as well, her normal bulky-armored-spacesuit having been replaced by the Warpig armor. It was larger, adding nearly another full foot to her height making her nearly 8 feet tall. The massive pack on the rear of the armor was full of weapons ranging from small drone launchers to a pair of missile tubes packing enough explosive power to level a city. She was supported by a pair of robotic mini-tanks and a small cluster of floating riot-shield drones.
“... This won’t be a small operation like before. A break-away like this means enemies will be taking real shots at us for what we do.”
"And we aren't going to fire real shots back… please." Geiben slipped on a pair of shoes, undocked his datapad, and grabbed a stun pistol from Green Thumb's arsenal. "I'm not your commander anymore, but do me a favor and not repeat Kiwomia." He gently knocked on her armor, then walked up to the two Alliance officers, with a sincere, apologetic grimace. "I'm sorry, but it appears the bureaucracy of the Alliance can't keep up with changing times. Once we send you back, you can put the blame on me."
“Things won’t get that bad. We won’t let them.” Wazu stated before pulling out a small display to check the time and his schedule, “... Now… Lets get you a starship…
...and a crew”
Planet Hawking,
Archology 23,
Geiben’s Quarters,
“GEIBEN! WAKE UP!”
It had been weeks since Geiben had arrived back on Hawking, and it had been months since his dismissal from the military. He had been left with this area of the archaeology, a wide, ocean-facing area that he could configure to his heart’s desires as he waited for some nebulous higher ups to decide what to do with him. There were no visitors during this time, except for the Military Police guards that were stationed out front.
But today was a new day.
Daylight was just starting to come up over the horizon, and Heram Wazu was already standing around, calling out to Geiben after letting himself in through the front door.
Heram himself looked different than normal. He still had the same muted colors before, the now short blackish-brown hair, his colorless grey eyes, simple lean build, and a seeming lack of major pigmentation of the skin. However it was his clothing that would stand out as the major change. Instead of the utilitarian clothing one might expect from an engineer or scientist, he was now wearing something a bit more expensive, perfectly tailored, black suit jacket with a green polo shirt underneath, jet black pants with a fashionable brown belt and shoes. It seemed to be about as formal as one could expect from him.
“HAVE YOU BEEN WATCHING THE NEWS?”
Heram didn’t wait for a response, instead simply pulling a small device out of his suit pocket and connecting to the local displays. Floating projections of the days news stories along with the drone of talking heads would cover the windows that had previously been looking out onto the ocean. They were discussing the upcoming election, the groups that were vying for votes and seats on the executive council, and the odds that a major upset could be on the horizon. There was a buzz of electricity about their words conveying a sense of excitement about something that no one seemed quite ready to spell out.
It was an excitement that even the normally calculating Heram was unable to keep out of his own words.
“The Magnetic Assembly is going to take a majority of the votes in the upcoming election. They’ve already spoken with many of the smaller parties and will be at the head of the coalition government of the executive council.” He spoke with a speed to his words as if he couldn’t wait to get them out, seeming to forget he could speak quite quickly when he wasn’t trying to slow himself down for others, “... I know you are human, and perhaps never felt the pull the same way that those of the Assembly do but I this is the kind of thing you were meant for.”
"It's good to see you too, Mr. Wazu." Geiben yawned, then pulled himself out of bed to meet the sunlight. His home was sparsly decorated, mostly just what he possessed on the Edward Deming when he was still in command: a hanging model sailboat on the wall, a tidy closet of clothes, and a docked data pad on his desk. The Pacifican himself, Earth African in appearance but with a hint of German descent in his rather uncannily blue eyes, was far darker than he was back on the ship, a result of spending ample time swimming along the edge of the beach.
He was much more for, the confines of the space faring vessel and its false gravity replaced by the pristine ocean environment of Planet Hawking. Perhaps that was why Geiben hasn't gone insane despite weeks of isolation.
He stood up, wearing nothing but a pair of green and white striped trunks before throwing on a Hawaiian shirt. "I read the headlines, but I was never one for politics." Geiben walked over to the fridge. "Do you want beer, juice, or vat milk?"
“Unexpected.” Wazu stated, taking a moment to re-gather his thoughts before moving forward.
“No liquids for me.”
Another pause, as the metaphorical gears in his head turned over to another line of thought.
“Early polling is showing the Pro Alliance party having a 60 point drop in the polls. The Magnetic Assembly is picking up nearly all of that representation. They made this election a referendum about how the Alliance runs things, and for the first time people are placing their trust in the machines to run things.” Bubbling excitement was something that just seemed out of place for Heram, perhaps because he did not get much practice with it. “The Assembly supports how you handled things, and the people of Hawking don’t agree with how the Alliance dismissed you.”
There was another pause. A moment of calculation. Then a new approach applied.
“I am leading the transition team, we will advise the executive council on what actions need to be taken to secure this star system during this period and we only have DAYS to figure this all out. When the vote happens things are going to move fast and I want you on my team.”
"Hawking is going independent?" Geiben raised an eyebrow as he poured himself a glass of vat milk. "I'm flattered that the Assembly thinks this way, but…" He considered his conversation with Enid about building a new order. How was the pilot doing anyways? It's been weeks since they last talked.
"... How much time do we have before the system peels away from Alliance protection? I'd like nothing more than to give the people here a better alternative, but Hawking could end up being a second Kiwomia. Without the Alliance name, the Taianese will sure take the opportunity to take control of the system."
“Three weeks until the election. All the major parties are onboard and the speech given the next day will announce our withdrawal from the Alliance. Our job will be to account for every uncertainty so that we don’t find ourselves in the same position as Kiwomia.” Wazu had switched to a very direct look at Geiben, carefully judging his reaction at this point, “That includes such questions as how to deal with the remaining Alliance presence in the system.”
"The Edward Deming." Geiben crossed his arms. "And every other supply ship in the system. That's a lot of assets we're removing that could be used to maintain the system's independence. The captain and the crew as well."
"If the parties are on board, then that surely means they've already done some estimates about the system's capabilities, correct?"
“Nothing concrete. Each area has their own local defenses and there is a general understanding of how to manage things but no grand fleet to protect the system We’ve got the one warship… but the Alliance has mothballed a number of small escorts as well as all of their support ships. Those ships are docked in Hawking space too… along with the Edward Deming.
We have enough drones to keep commerce going in the system, and without having to supply a massive energy and material tithe to the Alliance we are free to start building some very large projects. The local area defenses should also be plenty to hold off anyone with ambition for the time being. Our stockpile of surface-launched anti-ship drones is unmatched.
But first, I need to form a team. Are you in or not?” Heram asked.
"I don't have much of a choice." Geiben gulped down the last of the vat milk. "It'll be difficult to find a job back in the Alliance as a discharged officer with no honors, and an opportunity to do some good and right in front of me. Count me in."
“You always have a choice… and I am glad to have you back. We will get you some additional clothing on the way and what weapons are you rated for?...” Heram was already on the way out the front door, heading into one of the main passageways of the Archology. There were high arched ceilings in this massive hallway that was large enough to support a shuttle flying through.
Near the other side of the hall were the two Alliance MPs, handcuffed and detained.
Green-Thumb was there as well, her normal bulky-armored-spacesuit having been replaced by the Warpig armor. It was larger, adding nearly another full foot to her height making her nearly 8 feet tall. The massive pack on the rear of the armor was full of weapons ranging from small drone launchers to a pair of missile tubes packing enough explosive power to level a city. She was supported by a pair of robotic mini-tanks and a small cluster of floating riot-shield drones.
“... This won’t be a small operation like before. A break-away like this means enemies will be taking real shots at us for what we do.”
"And we aren't going to fire real shots back… please." Geiben slipped on a pair of shoes, undocked his datapad, and grabbed a stun pistol from Green Thumb's arsenal. "I'm not your commander anymore, but do me a favor and not repeat Kiwomia." He gently knocked on her armor, then walked up to the two Alliance officers, with a sincere, apologetic grimace. "I'm sorry, but it appears the bureaucracy of the Alliance can't keep up with changing times. Once we send you back, you can put the blame on me."
“Things won’t get that bad. We won’t let them.” Wazu stated before pulling out a small display to check the time and his schedule, “... Now… Lets get you a starship…
...and a crew”