by David Bowles
SUBJECT: The fuck should I know? I ain’t in on the meetings, pendeho.
(Seven minutes elapse as more negative neural stimulus is applied.)
AGENT: What? You ready to talk? Come on, Nicho. Course you aren’t in the meetings, but rumors fly among yall Meros Marikões. What do they discuss in these meetings, far’s you know?
SUBJECT: (incomprehensible)
AGENT: Say again?
SUBJECT: How they’re gonna gut the Brotherhood. Something about a new drug on some planet yall cunt-sortium putos don’t know about yet. Better than moku.
AGENT: What’s the planet’s name?
SUBJECT: I don’t know. It’s outside the CPCC, that’s all. Some small colony on it, I think.
AGENT: What else, Nicho? I’m gonna pull it from you one way or another, little brother.
SUBJECT: Well, you fucking poet, there’s talk of invading Sigma Draconis, too.
AGENT: And whose bright idea is all this crazy-arse shite?
SUBJECT: Bandera, man. Bandera came to Jimi first, couple years back. He’s a wicked bad fucker, too. One his men said some smarmy shite to Jimi, Bandera fucking slit his throat, fast as fucking, right there in front of us.
AGENT: And Bandera’s the one got them to pull off of CPCC worlds?
SUBJECT: You mean got Ned and Jimi to? Yeah. Took some convincing.
AGENT: So where are yall at now?
SUBJECT: Fuck you. No way. Shite I told you can’t hurt them. But I ain’t giving my compas up, silver suit. Fucking do what you want to me.
(No further information could be obtained from subject, who became inaccessible to additional questioning an hour and forty-two minutes later.)
INTERMEZZO
There is only one rule: suffer the pain.
Two New Worlds Discovered
Ben Traevis
Milan Gazette
5 February, 2690—Two more non-Consortium human colonies were discovered this week, bringing to six the number of independent worlds that we are aware of. Though details are sketchy, the Gazette confirmed that these worlds were not settled by sleeper ships like the other four, but by Consortium citizens illegally exiting the bounds of the CPCC, using unregistered fenestration drives. The first world, which Flotilla long-range reconnaissance stumbled across on 30 January, is in the Chara system. Sources in Milint tell the Gazette that its inhabitants, some 1,500 humans, are former Mediterranean Blockers, who emigrated from Earth twenty-four years ago, right after fenestration began to reshape human space.
The second world, orbiting Gamma Leporis, was, it seems, settled by various Asian ethnic groups from the Centauri system in 2661. Security is tight on this one, but rumors suggest that yakuza groups have made contact with the colony there.
Debate abounds over whether these worlds should be allowed to remain independent, or whether their colonists’ nominal status as citizens of the Consortium impact the status of their new home. The state ministry only comments that they are “in negotiations” with the fledgling governments on both worlds.
Ethnographer Tohti Tunyaz, whose seminal Amarta: Three Years in the Kingdom of Kunti was very influential in the formation of the present Ministry of State, cautions against imperialism toward independent planets.
“Anything we that might hint at aggression could be read wrong. These are people who’ve gone out of their way to escape what they view as oppression by human governments, whether the old USR or the CPCC. We must understand this delicate situation as completely as possible, working to foster strong ties between our peoples.”
* * *
Syndicate Attack on Sirius Galvanizes Voters
Delta Smith
La Caille Daily
5 April, 2692—After the inexplicable attack on 1 April, during which a dozen yakuza ships pounded the Ministry of Science’s heavily guarded research complex on the Sirius end of the military’s imrizabu, public opinion has swung decidedly toward the expansionist side. The Affiliation for Human Destiny (AHD) was energized by new poll numbers suggesting that they will hold the majority come elections, just three days away.
The yakuza attack, which ended in the destruction of all twelve syndicate ships and significant damage to the MOS station in Sirius, is still shaking the Consortium. Many people question what the present government might do differently. Prime Minister Jusuf Kumalic continues to be faulted for his weakness on the organized crime crisis. Expansionists clamor for strong military action at Oceania and Jitsu and elsewhere, but Kumalic opposed such moves in consistent vetoes.
If the AHD wins a majority of seats in the CPCC Diet, the next PM is almost guaranteed to be a hard-line pro-military expansionist. High on the list is Jetsun Muntso, the senator from Kush whose father’s military prowess is legendary.
* * *
Suicide Squad Sends Shockwaves
Staff reporter, Centauri Free Press Agency
12 August, 2692—The Consortium was wounded to the quick today as a series of massive explosions ripped through the Flotilla Shipyards in orbit round Sani in the Rigil Kentaurus subsystem of Alpha Centauri 3. Initial reports of the incident detailed the extensive damage done: all seventy-five vessels being built or refitted at the shipyards were destroyed, as were the shipyards themselves, the seven Constabulary patrol ships nearby, and two adjacent platforms that housed over twenty thousand Consortium citizens.
AF special forces that rushed to the scene from Dhara determined within an hour that the explosions were the result of five ships defenestrating right into the heart of the shipyards, perhaps loaded with explosives, though the ships themselves would have been sufficient, opines astrophysicist Eva Kaplan.
“The simple act of exiting hyperspace at .6c in the middle of a more or less dense object would rip a ship to shreds, along with the object into which the ship was defenestrating.” Dr. Kaplan went on to add that secondary explosions from the fusion power generators on the ships that were in the last stages of construction would, likely finish the job.
With so many of its vessels deployed elsewhere, like at the Tau Ceti-Sirius Imrizabu and around the various recent Consortium colonies, the Flotilla only has eleven armed ships round and within the Rigil Kentaurus subsystem. However, Flotilla Chief of Staff Admiral Ettore Savelli downplayed the impression that the AF just was not prepared.
“Impossible to protect against insanity, but we are taking every measure to protect key Consortium interests. The Navarch himself is overseeing the deployment of Flotilla forces in conjunction the Army.”
Asked whether he considers the attacks a continuation of the underworld activity growing on Jitsu, New Beijing, Podgoritsa and other new worlds, the admiral declined to give a specific answer.
“Only two hours have passed since the attack,” Savelli cautioned. “Too early to say.”
* * *
Kuntian Forces Deep on Dhara
Staff reporter, Centauri Free Press Agency
19 August, 2692—La Caille, Dhara’s principal city, continues to be assaulted by the forces that were dropped onto Rigil Kentaurus’ most populous world just hours after a crippling suicide attack nearly a week ago. The invasion fleet itself, thirty vessels that we now know are from the Sigma Draconis system, is engaged in constant combat with Flotilla ships, more of which defenestrate and enter the system every day. The estimated 50,000 troops that the invaders installed on Dhara right after defenestrating in-system have taken several important cities, including Kadesh, Jericho and Troy. Attempts by the Consortium Army to land additional battalions to support the planetside force continue to be rebuffed by the smaller but more tenacious invading force.
Astrophysicists are still at a loss as to how, in the decade since the CPCC first approved the sale of fenestration drives to the Constitutional Monarchy of Kunti, as the inhabitants of Sigma Draconis style themselves, that independent system was able to master the technique of defenestrating so near to a massive body.
“Given the exit speed and proximity of the planet, the invasion was p
lanned far in advance,” suggests Dr. Eva Kaplan, the astrophysicist whose pronouncements are being carried on all the major infotainment sites. “And I would guess with constant, updated intel on astrophysical data from the area around the planet. Reported from someone on Dhara.”
Kunti embassies on Earth, Dhara and Oceania are now closed; all Kunti officials and citizens within the Consortium are in ‘protective custody,’ according to a spokesperson for the Executive Intelligence Division. The XID’s central headquarters on Sihtu in the Rigil Kentaurus subsystem remain unattacked, and the division is lending all personnel it can to handling the invasion.
“We should’ve caught this before it happened,” said the spokesperson. “It’s our job to make sure it’s over quick.”
On a difficult side note, Prime Minister Kumalic assured the press that the transition from his government to that of Jetsun Muntso, who was just selected by the now majority AHD Diet, would continue a smooth curve to the December swear-in. “These are times for coming together, not grandstanding,” he assured reporters via faux-conferencing. “I intend to afford PM-elect Munsto every bit of help I can.”
* * *
The Face of the Enemy
Daenyul Maet
Humanity Today
23 August, 2692—One of the most repeated questions in the mouths of Consortium citizens in recent days is predictable: “Who are the Kunti ?” In the near four decades since AF scientist Jan Lieske and Travex specialists Wing Ho and Chan Ling separately invented fenestration drives, space has been opened up for humanity. Beyond the new worlds that we found waiting for us to colonize, we discovered already existing colonies, much to our surprise, founded by humans decades or even centuries ago, people who left the solar system for a variety of reasons. Semanawak and Erin were discovered in 2681, Terego in ’83. Gaia and Fusou just two years back. But before those five, Consortium vessels first stumbled across Sigma Draconis.
Sigma Draconis—or as it was renamed, Kunti—is a star system some nineteen light years from Earth. In 2528, during the years of chaos and martial law that followed the dissolution of the United Solar Republics, just twenty-three months before the establishment of the CPCC, an independent, rogue colony ship called the Bharatayuda left human space, exchanging one uncertain future for another. Made up of mostly ethnic Javanese and assorted other Hindu people of Indonesian extraction from Amalgamated Kuiper Mining Interests, the one thousand thirty passengers and crew spent seventy-one non-relativistic years traveling through space before arriving at Sigma Draconis. There they landed on the Earth-like planet that they named Bima, and within a century and a half their population exceeded six million souls spread across Bima and other worlds in the system.
When the first CPCCAF scout ship encountered them, the citizens of the Constitutional Monarchy of Kunti were being governed by an elected parliament and an aging king, the Maharaja Tri Leksono. After nearly a decade of talks, the maharaja agreed to a timetable for dismantling the monarchy and creating a Republic of Kunti that would then be inducted into the Consortium. In 2682, in light of the agreements and as a demonstration of good will, the CPCC sold fenestration technology to the Kunti government. Despite public outcry at this sharing of such a powerful technology, then Prime Minister Ginette Lubin continued working close with Leksono, establishing the ministry of state for the most part to smooth the partnership and open the door toward Kunti’s eventual acceptance into the CPCC. A timetable had just been set up, the projected date sometime in 2697, when of a sudden the Kunti maharaja died an untimely death.
His son Uki was declared regent at a critical time. Underworld attacks were beginning to blossom all across the CPCC, and Uki secured Consortium permission to purchase heavy planet defense weaponry from a member nation.
In retrospect, it is clear former PM Lubin should have said no.
* * *
(The following is an excerpt from “Spinning the Dharma Wheel,” an interview with Modupe Oduyoye, former professor of comparative theology and president of Jitsu’s progressive Ra-Koreji, published in the Station City Sentinel on 24 August, 2692)
Q- So you think we should have known ahead of time?
A- Suspected at least. All the clues were there. The name of their ship, for example, the one they left the USR on…
Q- The Bharatayuda?
A- Yes. It’s also the name of the third part of the massive epic that undergirds Hinduism: the Mahabharata. A great war between two groups of brothers. Each group is the cousin of the other. The Pandavas—the five nominally good guys—assume their rightful place as rulers of Kurukshetra, an ancient Indian kingdom. One of the Pandava is named Arjuna; he’s also called Kaunteya, son of Kunti.
Q- Kaunteya? Isn’t that the name Uki Leksono signed his ultimatum with?
A- Exactly. And this is important for the leaders of the CPCC to understand: if Regent Leksono believes his self to be Arjuna reincarnated, then he will not stop. His war effort can’t be halted through diplomacy. See, in the midst of the Bharatayuda, Arjuna wavers. He doesn’t relish the idea of killing his cousins, who he was raised with. But Krishna, the human incarnation of the god Vishnu, convinces him that fighting the war is part of living up to dharma.
Q- Dharma?
A- Yes. Cosmic responsibility conforming to one’s position in society. It’s related in many tight ways to karma, destiny-forging action. Uki, I would wager, believes it is his duty and destiny to fight the CPCC, which he undoubtedly sees as the usurpers of the rightful rulers of humanity.
Q- So the attacks won’t cease? This won’t be the only battle front?
A- I’m afraid not, lad.
* * *
Attacks Spread Throughout CPCC and Beyond
Staff reporter, Centauri Free Press Agency
30 August, 2692—As the situation on Dhara grows grimmer, with reports of internment camps and mass executions leaking, the past four days have seen a number of additional strikes, though none so massive and well planned as the first. All three of Achilles’ inhabited moons are under siege, many of the bubble-towns being breached. Podgoritsa and New Mecca are also battling Kunti attack vessels (see home page for further details on Consortium progress and specific death and damage tolls).
In addition to these attacks, worlds outside of the CPCC are also feeling the bite of Kunti aggression. Flotilla patrols in the comet clouds near both Terego and Semanawak have engaged Kunti ships, and the dozens of almost abandoned platforms orbiting Jitsu, which were once employed to repair ships damaged by imrizabu travel centuries ago, are the target of smaller assault teams of Kunti soldiers.
This reporter was on Rasaro, the principal of these platforms, in recent days and was able to speak with Ben Wu, the former Consortium Army major that now heads up Jitsu’s Alpha Squad, main contingent of the anti-terrorism unit.
“We been carrying out sweeps of the platforms,” the squad captain, flanked by several of his men, informed. “Several encounters with the Kunti so far. We are hard at work protecting the people of Jitsu from not just the regular yakuza scum we’ve been engaging on the surface, but with any other hostiles that imagine they can step onto our turf.”
When this reporter asked what did the squad members do with Kunti infiltrators, one of Captain Wu’s men, a short, massive soldier code-named Kyosu, barked a succinct response:
“We kill the bastards.”
* * *
Bravery at Lyonesse
Saymun Wigin
Centauri Free Press Agency
5 September, 2692—It is a story of tragedy and of bravery. Of heroes and victims. A story that reflects the character of the Consortium citizenry. For two weeks after the Kunti invasion, Lyonesse, a thriving city on Dhara, tried to handle the foreign forces with diplomacy. But the populace was gradually interred in camps, and the city’s mayor, Leyla Soral, led the remains of municipal security in a hopeless but courageous assault against Commander Joko Susilo, the Kunti officer that rules that city with an alien, iron fist.
The inadequate band of CPCC heroes, a recent escapee informs, managed on 3 September to bust in to one of the three concentration camps. As they were freeing Lyonessans from cruel captivity, Susilo’s bandits brought their greater might to bear and captured Mayor Soral and her loyal security team.
We can just hope and pray that these incredible women and men hold strong till the CPCCAF in the end forces the foreign vermin from Dhara’s face. In any case, they are to be remembered as true citizens and soldiers.
* * *
Occupation: Can We Afford Not to?
Outward
Editorial Staff
A little more than a month after the vicious attacks on our Consortium began, we find ourselves on the edge of a dilemma: what do we do when the conflict ends? Our too liberal stance concerning non-Consortium worlds has proved deadly. It’s time for a more serious, sovereignty- and unity-preserving position to be embraced. Humanity must be a single whole. Independent worlds should be brought into the fold.