Mid-December, 2320
Sol System, Ceres Station
Centuries past, reeling from the environmental apocalypse on Earth, the superstates of the human community sought out worlds beyond their gravity well for salvation. Thousands of fission and fusion torches lifted up from the homeworld, carrying men and material to reach for the riches of the larger universe that was denied to them for so long. The four superstates carved up the solar system amongst themselves, making claims and drawing lines from Jupiter's Io to Neptune's Triton. Some bodies were claimed entirely by a single superstate; Pluto of the American Union is the prime example. Then, when the first commercially viable SLE was built, the superstates started to grab entire star systems.
There were a few major exceptions to the land grab. Mars was one, but it was, and still is, a scientific and engineering curiosity, the biggest, most expensive symbol of human cooperation, a continuous attempt to create Earth 2.0 within the Sol system despite the existence of perfectly habitable worlds in other systems. The cynically pragmatic, more important exception was Ceres. In a moment of clarity, the human community did not prime the strategically important dwarf planet for conflict. The bare minimum of government oversight was agreed upon by the four superstates, while international corporations stepped in to turn the rock into the most important trade hub and resource silo that connected the inner system to the Asteroid belt and to the outer planets beyond. Now, after highly efficient fusion engines allow non-stop trips from Earth to Pluto, Ceres Station became the corridor for outcasts of Earth to find opportunity elsewhere in the void, as arrival and departure from the dwarf planet was relatively affordable. The lonely found family, the wanderers found direction, the lawless found order to their lives.
And for that reason, Alex Clyborn loved the dwarf planet. Stepping out of the Audentes, he took a deep breath of the recycled air as if it was as fresh as that atop the Himalayas. The station was made of a series of rotating, tapered rings that cooperated with Ceres' natural but weak gravity to provide a fractional semblance of that on Earth. It was an old design --- Magnuski Station of the Silbern system used lavish drums --- but it was efficient, relatively low maintenance. Alex walked through the cramped streets and corridors, making his way to the smaller rings deeper into Ceres, where the Coriolis effect was more pronounced, the gravity more peculiar, but where even corporate surveillance was limited. His true home as a smuggler.
Alex arrived at a hole in the wall, an establishment called the Demeter's Assets. It was fitting that he had his first kiss with his wife, Mirina here, then made love in the supply corridor in the back. Happier times. He would indulge himself recollecting those fond memories for a minute, granting himself a smile, then looked at his datapad. His employer took care of recruitment, while Alex got to pick the place and time for meet up. Should be any minute now before his new crew becomes known to him.
Walking in, Alex sat in front of the bar, eyeing the bartender. He recognized her, a scrawny woman who knew how to use a firearm and words: Linda. Made out with her before Mirina came into the picture, and even afterwards with Mirina in the mix. Alex shot her a smile, but she ignored him, tending to other patrons. That was weird. It's been a year since they last met, but they were on quite good terms before then. What changed?
When Linda finally came over to him, she slid a cocktail towards him. "This one's on the house." She announced, then spoke to Alex in a low voice. "You're not welcome here."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "Why not?" He asked, but he vaguely knew the answer.
"Because you got caught. Please, leave before they come."
"Who? Look, I'm just here on business." Alex replied respectfully. "Once I get a new crew together I won't bother you anymore."
"A crew to do what? Spy on us?" A voice came from behind Alex. Before he could turn around completely, a swing came from his right that he barely dodged by ducking his head. With his back against the bar, he met face to face with a group of three in jumpsuits in different colors. "Get out of here before we have to make things ugly, Clyborn. You know the rules around here."
"Bullshit. This is a free state." Alex stood up. He was a scrawny, like Linda, the result of spending more time in no gravity than what's healthy, and was confined to contact lenses. He did know how to throw a punch though, and he had his pistol. Still, it was three against one, and they were packing heat as well.
Sol System, Ceres Station
Centuries past, reeling from the environmental apocalypse on Earth, the superstates of the human community sought out worlds beyond their gravity well for salvation. Thousands of fission and fusion torches lifted up from the homeworld, carrying men and material to reach for the riches of the larger universe that was denied to them for so long. The four superstates carved up the solar system amongst themselves, making claims and drawing lines from Jupiter's Io to Neptune's Triton. Some bodies were claimed entirely by a single superstate; Pluto of the American Union is the prime example. Then, when the first commercially viable SLE was built, the superstates started to grab entire star systems.
There were a few major exceptions to the land grab. Mars was one, but it was, and still is, a scientific and engineering curiosity, the biggest, most expensive symbol of human cooperation, a continuous attempt to create Earth 2.0 within the Sol system despite the existence of perfectly habitable worlds in other systems. The cynically pragmatic, more important exception was Ceres. In a moment of clarity, the human community did not prime the strategically important dwarf planet for conflict. The bare minimum of government oversight was agreed upon by the four superstates, while international corporations stepped in to turn the rock into the most important trade hub and resource silo that connected the inner system to the Asteroid belt and to the outer planets beyond. Now, after highly efficient fusion engines allow non-stop trips from Earth to Pluto, Ceres Station became the corridor for outcasts of Earth to find opportunity elsewhere in the void, as arrival and departure from the dwarf planet was relatively affordable. The lonely found family, the wanderers found direction, the lawless found order to their lives.
And for that reason, Alex Clyborn loved the dwarf planet. Stepping out of the Audentes, he took a deep breath of the recycled air as if it was as fresh as that atop the Himalayas. The station was made of a series of rotating, tapered rings that cooperated with Ceres' natural but weak gravity to provide a fractional semblance of that on Earth. It was an old design --- Magnuski Station of the Silbern system used lavish drums --- but it was efficient, relatively low maintenance. Alex walked through the cramped streets and corridors, making his way to the smaller rings deeper into Ceres, where the Coriolis effect was more pronounced, the gravity more peculiar, but where even corporate surveillance was limited. His true home as a smuggler.
Alex arrived at a hole in the wall, an establishment called the Demeter's Assets. It was fitting that he had his first kiss with his wife, Mirina here, then made love in the supply corridor in the back. Happier times. He would indulge himself recollecting those fond memories for a minute, granting himself a smile, then looked at his datapad. His employer took care of recruitment, while Alex got to pick the place and time for meet up. Should be any minute now before his new crew becomes known to him.
Walking in, Alex sat in front of the bar, eyeing the bartender. He recognized her, a scrawny woman who knew how to use a firearm and words: Linda. Made out with her before Mirina came into the picture, and even afterwards with Mirina in the mix. Alex shot her a smile, but she ignored him, tending to other patrons. That was weird. It's been a year since they last met, but they were on quite good terms before then. What changed?
When Linda finally came over to him, she slid a cocktail towards him. "This one's on the house." She announced, then spoke to Alex in a low voice. "You're not welcome here."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "Why not?" He asked, but he vaguely knew the answer.
"Because you got caught. Please, leave before they come."
"Who? Look, I'm just here on business." Alex replied respectfully. "Once I get a new crew together I won't bother you anymore."
"A crew to do what? Spy on us?" A voice came from behind Alex. Before he could turn around completely, a swing came from his right that he barely dodged by ducking his head. With his back against the bar, he met face to face with a group of three in jumpsuits in different colors. "Get out of here before we have to make things ugly, Clyborn. You know the rules around here."
"Bullshit. This is a free state." Alex stood up. He was a scrawny, like Linda, the result of spending more time in no gravity than what's healthy, and was confined to contact lenses. He did know how to throw a punch though, and he had his pistol. Still, it was three against one, and they were packing heat as well.