The Long, Dark Night

by Ben Winston

  “Prime Council, you cannot be referring to all that borscht that your Hollywood movies created about nano-technology. While I can understand the medical benefits that we've been told about surely they cannot be used to create supermen?”

  “Councilor Rostov that is exactly what I'm saying. While I've been assured that the nanos that were used to treat Jorga are not capable of it, the possibility does exist that this technology can be used for that purpose. Let us also remember that anyone treated with nanos that have Jorga's capabilities can access any of our computer technology wirelessly. Currently that is a two-way, semi-unrestricted, connection.” Ben paused, and then addressed Mother again.

  “Mother, although I am aware that you are not capable of it due to your core programming how hard would it be for you to hack Jorga's mind and potentially take control of her if you had no such control protocols?”

  “Prime Council, please be aware that my programming is so strict in this area it is... difficult... for me to consider your question. However, that being said, I do not think it would be feasible to attempt to control a human. There is very little that you can do that I am not currently capable of. It would take too much of my processing power to control a human body," Mother replied.

  “Could you simply plant a suggestion in such a way as to make the person believe such a suggestion was their own idea?” Ben asked.

  It took a moment for Mother to reply. “No, I don't believe I could. In order to do that, I would have to bypass the person's nano-control unit and take direct control of the nanos. I could give you the medical explanation, but it would be simpler to say that I cannot 'plant' data or anything else for that matter without seriously affecting other control systems in the brain. While human brains are mostly the same from person to person, the mind is not. Attempting to plant data in a brain without knowing exactly where to put it could be catastrophic.”

  Ben nodded. “The point I was trying to make is that we can use this technology, but we should reserve the 'superman' nanos for our military. We must also consider the very real fact of being long-lived. We don't want to run into over-crowding issues because we can still have babies but no one is dying.” He shrugged. “That is a discussion for a later date. For now, I would like to put forth to all of you a motion to retain the classification on the technology until further testing and control options are available. Are there any objections?”

  One green light flashed on immediately. It was Marcy's friend from the Scottish Pods. “Aye, I would like to suggest that we await the completion of the research afore makin' any sweepin' decisions aboot this. 'Tis then I, for one, would like to revisit this discussion,” Councilor Carlyle offered.

  Looking around, Ben saw the majority of the councilors nodding agreement to her suggestion. “Thank you, Councilor Carlyle. The motion before us then is to leave the classified status of the research until its completion. At that time we shall return to this discussion. All in favor?”

  All the green lights came on even before he finished speaking. “Motion carries.”

  “Item logged,” Mother intoned.

  Ben looked down at the agenda. “Before we dig into the new constitution, I would like your permission to draft an addition to the Ministries section. It is becoming more and more evident that we are going to need a military. I will grant that, currently, we are a relatively small population; the troubling news from the surface of the planet only seems to underscore the need to prepare to defend ourselves. I am not suggesting the formation of an offensive army, rather a strong defensive arm in the event that we are discovered.”

  “I am not trying to suggest that we try to remain hidden forever and the day will come that our discovery will be inevitable, however, I would like us to have some form of protection in the event that discovery is not made on our terms. I suppose it was only my own inexperienced desire that we would have no need, but all the information we've been able to glean to this point has lead me to believe we are in danger.”

  Councilor Rostov immediately snapped his light on and Ben called on him. “Brothers and Sisters, perhaps it is because of my history, but I feel the same as our Prime Council. I believe his instinct to be sound on this. Even if the need for fighting never arises, the benefits of having an available force such as this out-weighs the costs. I am speaking of the role the old American National Guard played in responding to disasters and other large scale emergencies.”

  “We do currently have a large portion of the population that is inactive. This is not good. We have to get them off their bottoms and moving or no amount of medical breakthroughs will be able to get them healthy again. Not to mention that bored people do bad things simply for the entertainment value. No, I do not see a bad side to this and I would like to join with the Prime Council in asking you to give his request serious consideration. Thank you.”

  “Thank you Councilor. Would anyone else like to speak on this?” Ben asked. He nodded to one of the men that signaled he wished to. “Councilor Cormier."

  “Although I am not convinced of the need for violence, I do agree that having a large force of manpower to draw on in an emergency is a good idea. Please make your draft, Prime Council. We can iron out the details later.”

  Agreement was unanimous and Ben was given permission.

  “Okay, now to the heart of the matter. Ladies and Gentlemen, please open the first section of the proposed Constitution. I felt that Councilor Yoshi did a remarkable Job...” Ben began, and the real business of the Council began.

  Hidden Pirate Headquarters.

  11 Apr. 8255 CE

  Planet Terral III

  Cassian March

  Duchy of Cassias

  Hyclarion Imperial Consortium

  The mess hall was filled to capacity and a little extra. The last time all the raiding teams had been here at the same time, there was plenty of room. Now every bench was full, and people were standing along the walls, waiting for him to tell them why they were here.

  “Welcome back everyone. We've been given new orders. The successful attack on the prospector did not create as much of a public outcry as the Duke wanted. Nor are all our efforts raiding the trains and barges. So, the Duke has ordered us to attack and destroy the Great Falls Aerie,” Elrond finished. He had expected a reaction from his people, and he wasn't disappointed.

  “Is he out of his fucking mind? An Aerie?” someone shouted above the tumult.

  It took Elrond five minutes of shouting to get everyone to shut up and listen. “Shut up! Folks, I know this is not what we signed up for, but the situation is worse than any of us knew. I know we all decided that if things got too fucked up, we could always just cut our losses and run for it. I'm also pretty damn sure that most of you are thinking that very thing right now. But, it's far too late now and we are good and trapped.

  “Since the prospector affair, we've done some digging. The Duke already has troops here. They are being held in underwater bases spread out all over the planet. Before you panic, no, they're not Marines; he has about a division and a half of regular army. However, he does have a fleet of Marine deployment ships hidden in this system.

  “Now, we've also heard rumors and keep in mind that all they are is rumors, of an armada of destroyers in a covert location poised to strike Hyclarion.” He couldn't continue because of the noise.

  He overheard several people talking about trying to make a break for it anyway. Elrond had to shout over the din. “PEOPLE! We cannot run! We'd be destroyed before we even made orbit!”

  “So, you're saying we should help this crazy lizard destroy the Empire?” someone shouted. That seemed to quiet most people as they looked to their leader for an answer.

  “No, I'm not saying that. I'm simply telling all of you what's going on so we can decide what to do together. I need everyone's input on this before I make a decision because this one is a biggie. What we decide today will have some pretty far-flung effects. If we do nothing but follow the Duke's orders, then not only will w
e be killing over a thousand people, but if the rumors are true, we'll be helping him seize power and we'll eventually end up on some lizard's dinner plate.”

  “If we send a messenger to the closest Imperial Ranger Station, he might not make it and even if he does, we'll still be on the hook for the murders we'll commit while we appear to be following orders. There is also the possibility that the Rangers wouldn't believe our messenger anyway. In which case, they report back to the Duke and we, once again, end up on a dinner plate."

  “Why don't we fight back? We have enough fire power to take out the hidden bases don't we?” Davyn Gries asked. He was the group's Armorer. It was his responsibility to make sure each team had the weapons they needed for the job they were going to be doing. If anyone knew exactly what they had in terms of destructive power, it would be him.

  Elrond nodded. “We could do that. In fact, I've even drawn up a preliminary plan to do just that. However, what about the Marines? We don't have any surface to space weaponry and even if we did, we have no idea where they even are. Besides, by the letter of the law, the Duke has the right to have troops here, since this is one of his planets. Nowhere in that law does it put a limit on the number. It only restricts the type of soldier to defensive only. Which is exactly what these troops are. No, if we resort to attacking those troops, we better have Battlesteel re-enforced Ferrocrete for proof that the duke is planning on using them against the Empire.”

  “What about running? Can't we simply slip off-world, a few at a time, or in smaller ships?” A woman near the back asked.

  “The only chance we'd have is for everyone to go at once, otherwise only a few would get away before the Duke ordered us arrested. Granted, we could split into different, smaller groups and get out of here that way, but I would estimate about fifty percent losses. The Duke has to be watching for us to do that exact thing. Honestly, I was hoping one of you might have an idea I hadn't thought of and already dismissed.”

  “How long do we have before the Duke gets tired of waiting?” another man asked.

  “The orders are already three days old, but he also has to know that something this size is going to require some planning. I think I can put him off for another few days,” Elrond replied. “I've tried to keep all the messages and orders he's sent us, but they never record. I've had the techs try to figure out why and they tell me that there's something in the signal he uses that prohibits recording. Besides, they don't come directly from him and the voice is a computer simulation.” He shrugged. “So, we have no proof at all.”

  “It sounds like we're fucked,” an older gentlemen in front said reasonably.

  “Yep, so now you all know why your here,” Elrond replied.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  “Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.”

  - Benjamin Franklin

  Grand Council Chamber

  11 Apr. 8255 CE

  Sector 34871 - Great Inland Sea

  Earth, Sol system

  “Brothers and Sisters, I propose we call a halt for the day. We have done some really good work getting the first two sections completed. Tomorrow we can tackle the largest section; the Ministries. If we can get that section ironed out, then our people can get to work getting them set up.

  “Before we recess though, I would like to ask for your permission to get the design started for the construction of our capitol. Mother tells me that there is a veritable army of drones standing by for orders to begin construction. My father had the drones stored here because he believed that this would be the logical place for it,” Ben said. “So if there aren't any objections to that, I would like to request your architects to begin drafting a floor plan that will not only suit our needs, but allow for future expansions.”

  Once again Councilor Cormier asked to be recognized and Ben called on him.

  “Prime Council, Brothers and Sisters. The placement of our Capitol is really irrelevant. However, I believe we should stress to our architects the need for security, as well as enough room for all that will go on there. I also suggest that we do not have all the ministries located with the Capitol.

  “I know you have family that are to become Ministers, Prime Council, but please, hear my thoughts on this.” When Ben nodded, he continued. “Placing all the Ministries and the housing and other facilities required to support all the personnel, will, by necessity, become a city unto itself.

  “If we locate the Ministries at different locations around the globe, it will not only reduce the chances of discovery, it will prevent an enemy from completely destroying the entire government at one time. With our high-speed transit system, it makes it possible for loved ones to commute a great distance if they work at a different Ministry. It will also allow a greater diversity of our people to become involved in the governing process.

  “That being said, the Ministry of Defense should be located close to the main base, so it would be the closest to the Capitol. Since the Ministry of Law will most likely be the next largest, It should be located as far away from the capitol as is realistically possible. As for the rest, well, we can discuss those later, but for now, I believe those should have our priority. Thank you."

  Ben nodded thoughtfully. “I can see the logic behind your suggestion, Councilor. The only concern I would have is that each ministry be independent of local government. Since each of your districts will be allowed to set your own laws and customs, the Ministries should be exempt from those laws and customs. My reasoning is that, as you have said Councilor, this disbursement will allow for a more diverse workforce. For example a person that has Christian beliefs should not be forced to adhere to Muslim Laws and Customs. Of course, the reverse is also true.

  “I would, if at all possible, like to avoid the difficulties we had with religions before the fall. I feel that if we can all talk to one another, and actually listen, we can deal with these issues,” Ben finished.

  As he was hoping for, the green light under Councilor Mishief Amir came on, asking to be recognized. Smiling, Ben gave him a nod. “Councilor Amir.”

  “Brothers and Sisters. I would like to comment on this discussion, if I may?”

  Ben nodded. “I was actually hoping you, or one of your fellow Muslims would offer comment. Please, proceed.”

  “Thank you, Prime Council,” Mishief replied. “Those of us that follow Islam cannot separate Church and State, because for us, they are one and the same. Allowing us to set our own laws and follow our own customs, has gone far to set our minds at ease. I feel that the simple fact that we are all now one people, with diverse beliefs, will take care of the rest.

  “None of the tribes of Islam condone the violence of the pre-fall terrorists. A good portion of the difficulties that were the seeds of those despicable acts, were not actually religious ones. Many felt that the main problem were the policies of the former United States in regards to the countries of the Middle East.

  “Yes, the Jewish occupation of our Holy Land was also an issue. But it was not an issue that couldn't have been peaceably resolved. Who fired the first shot has been lost to antiquity and at this point, it is irrelevant. However, since the state of Israel was little more than a puppet of American policy, many that had lost loved ones to Israeli weapons blamed the United States.

  “The Fall was a wiping of the slate for us. A good portion of the extremists died during The Fall and so did the 'Great Satan'. There are no enemies anymore. There is only proof that in war, there are no winners; only survivors.” He paused. "I too believe we can avoid such rifts and I am grateful for the wisdom shown by the Prime Council. Thank you, Prime Council and thank you my Brothers and Sisters.”

  Before Ben could speak again, another light blinked on. “Councilor Yoshi,” Ben said.

  “On that inspiring note, I would like to make a motion that we retire for the day.”

  Many green lights came on, including a grinning Councilor Amir's. “I see that no second to that motion is needed. Shall we reconvene agai
n tomorrow at zero-nine hundred?” Ben asked.

  After that was agreed upon, Mother formally recorded the end of the day's proceedings. Before signing out, many of the councilors stayed on long enough to welcome Jorga and offer her words of encouragement.

  Bedouin Residence

  Command Pod Alpha One

  11 Apr. 8255 CE

  Sector 34871 - Great Inland Sea

  Earth, Sol system

  “How have you been, Bob?” Ben asked the smiling man on the screen.

  “Pretty good actually. These last few days have been really wonderful. Being your father's personal attorney kept me pretty busy, so it's been a treat to spend some extra time with my family,” Bob Gilly replied. “From what I hear though, you've been pretty busy.”

  Ben chuckled. “So much has happened since we got out of the freezers that it's almost impossible to believe it's only been a few days. I never imagined that setting up a new government would be so complicated. Add on to that, all the rest of the stuff I have to deal with until we get everything set-up, and I feel like I haven't even slept!"

  Bob nodded knowingly. “I don't doubt that you are severely over-burdened right now, but you're doing fine. Tom knew that you would be the best person for the job because he'd been subtly grooming you for it since you were just a little boy.”

  “Really?” Ben asked looking thoughtful as he tried to remember anything that he and his father had done that might have been training for the position he now found himself in. “I think he was really subtle, because I can't think of anything that we might have done what could be considered training for this.”

  “Well, it wasn't so much training as molding you into the man you have become. You have a strong sense of fair play and the gift of negotiation. You try to see all sides to an issue before you decide what might be the best option for the greatest number of people. He was particularly proud of that last one since it was a skill he, himself lacked.