THE ALL-PRO (Galactic Football League)

by Scott Sigler

  “No!” the team said in unison.

  “I can’t hear you.”

  “No!”

  Hokor picked up his little hat. “Good. Tomorrow night we watch Hullwalker holos. Normal practice on Tuesday.”

  He stomped off, his little feet carrying him out the door. The various races filtered into their dressing rooms. Starcher stayed where he was, still swaying.

  A hand on Quentin’s shoulder.

  Quentin turned, found himself facing Don Pine.

  “Q, I know you don’t want to hear anything from me.”

  “You got that right.”

  “Forget that and listen. You need to talk to Starcher.”

  Quentin brushed Pine’s hand away. “I will.”

  “Do it now,” Pine said. “A drop like that, it can mess with a receiver. Get in their head. Affect their performance.”

  “Coach just said we can’t blame it on one play.”

  Pine nodded. “Sure, but he’s the coach. You’re the team leader and it’s your pass he dropped — George needs to hear it from you. Go talk to him.”

  Quentin stared at the blue-skinned man, wanted to tell him to mind his own damn business, but Pine was right. As usual. Quentin turned and walked over to George.

  “Hey, man,” Quentin said. “Don’t let it get to you.”

  George looked up, his eyes wide and haunted. “The old ones,” he said. “The firmament has pulled me from the fabric of spacetime and cast me aside.”

  “That, or you dropped a pass,” Quentin said. “It happens.”

  George shook his head. “It does not just happen. I failed. I am a failure.”

  “So make up for it. One dropped pass will be forgotten if you play well next week, right?”

  George stared, then nodded — but his eyes didn’t change. He stood. “I have to go. I must talk to my towel.”

  George walked to the Human locker room. Quentin watched him walk away. Talk to his towel? George was a bit off his rocker, for sure. But who knew? Maybe the towel would have better words of encouragement.

  The holoboard displayed updated scores and standings. The To Pirates and Wabash Wolfpack had both won. Those teams were 3-and-0, tied for first.

  The Krakens would catch them.

  That quest began with a trip back to the League of Planets, with a game against the Hittoni Hullwalkers.

  GFL WEEK THREE ROUNDUP

  Courtesy of Galaxy Sports Network

  THE WEEK BEGAN WITH seven undefeated teams, but finished with four. The Jupiter Jacks and the Neptune Scarlet Fliers both stayed at 3-0, the Jacks with 41-7 thumping of the Texas Earthlings (0-3) and the Fliers with a 31-10 win over the Sala Intrigue (1-2).

  Two 3-0 teams also top the Planet Division. The To Pirates (3-0) put a 38-14 whipping on the Alimum Armada (0-3), while the Wabash Wolfpack (3-0) notched a convincing 31-10 win on the surprising OS1 Orbiting Death (2-1).

  Isis climbed back into the Planet Division title hunt with a 21-10 win over the Yall Criminals (1-2). With quarterback Rick Renaud out due to injury, the Criminals have scored only 10 points in their last six quarters of play. Renaud is expected to return in Week Four against Jupiter.

  Ionath (2-1) came into the week undefeated and heavily favored to beat the Coranadillana Cloud Killers (1-2), but were upset by a score of 28-23. Krakens tight end George Starcher dropped what would have been a game-winning pass as time expired. Ionath falls to a four-way, second-place tie in the Planet Division, along with OS1, Isis and Themala (2-1).

  Deaths

  Neptune Scarlet Fliers fullback Stephen Pagan, killed on a late hit by Sala Intrigue defensive tackle Gum-Aw-Pin. GFL Commissioner Rob Froese suspended Gum-Aw-Pin for Sala’s upcoming game against the Jang Atom Smashers and also fined the All-Pro defender 100 kilocredits.

  Offensive Player of the Week

  Daniel Carrus, running back for the D’Kow War Dogs, who ran for 132 yards and 2 touchdowns in a losing effort against the Bartel Water Bugs.

  Defensive Player of the Week

  Smileyberg, cornerback for the Coranadillana Cloud Killers. Smileyberg scored three touchdowns, one off an interception of Quentin Barnes, one off a fumble recovery and one on a kickoff return.

  14

  WEEK FOUR:

  IONATH KRAKENS

  at HITTONI HULLWALKERS

  PLANET DIVISION

  3-0 To Pirates

  3-0 Wabash Wolfpack

  2-1 Isis Ice Storm

  2-1 Ionath Krakens

  2-1 OS1 Orbiting Death

  2-1 Themala Dreadnaughts

  1-2 Coranadillana Cloud Killers

  1-2 Yall Criminals

  0-3 Alimum Armada

  0-3 Hittoni Hullwalkers

  0-3 Lu Juggernauts

  SOLAR DIVISION

  3-0 Jupiter Jacks

  3-0 Neptune Scarlet Fliers

  2-1 Bartel Water Bugs

  2-1 New Rodina Astronauts

  2-1 Shorah Warlords

  1-2 Bord Brigands

  1-2 D’Kow War Dogs

  1-2 Jang Atom Smashers

  1-2 Sala Intrigue

  1-2 Vik Vanguard

  0-3 Texas Earthlings

  Excerpt from “Sorenson’s Guide to the Galaxy” Science First: The League of Planets

  In the realm of business, it is said that you don’t rise to the top without making a few enemies. And if your government is run like a business, the same holds true, especially for the CEO of the League of Planets.

  The League is one of the stranger government structures in known space. For 164 years, this technologically advanced system has been run as a corporation. A corporation dedicated to one thing: science.

  In the League, the prevailing philosophy is that if you take care of science first, everything else takes care of itself. When you look at the League’s standing in the galaxy, it is hard to argue with this logic. The League is far and away the leader in engine technology, ship construction, communications, genetic engineering involving the Human genome, legal body modification and exploration.

  The Corporation as Government

  The League of Planets is a giant corporation that focuses on scientific achievement. All other elements of government, from defense to trade to agriculture to exploration, center on keeping the scientific bureaucracy running. While the League makes a great deal of profit from technological advances, that money is perpetually earmarked for increased scientific spending and the betterment of life for League citizens. By focusing on scientific advancement, the League has established the highest quality of life in known space.

  The League of Planets treats all governmental duties as pure business, part of the effort to support the advancement of science. There is little wasted spending and every credit is accounted for.

  Head of State: First Scientist

  It is difficult to find a comparable government position to that of First Scientist of the League of Planets. While religion is outlawed in the League, many sentients outside the system say that science is their religion. From that perspective, one could consider the First Scientist the equivalent of a theocracy’s “Supreme Leader.” Some say that makes the First Scientist position more comparable to Grand Mullah of the Purist Nation than to the President of the Planetary Union or to the Grand Tribe Master of the Yashindi.

  While the First Scientist doesn’t handle day-to-day management of the government, he or she does hold considerable sway over the Scientific Council. The Scientific Council is the League’s equivalent to a congressional body. The First Scientist’s influence over this group means he or she directly impacts decisions made by the League of Planet’s leader, the CEO.

  Chief Executive Officer

  Currently held by Clarissa King, the League’s CEO office is quite nearly a dictatorial position. CEO King controls all aspects of government. She makes all major governmental decisions. Her word is law.

  Unlike a true dictator, however, the League’s CEO is always held accountable by the 51-member Scientific Coun
cil, which can order her removal at any time by a two-thirds majority vote. That is why being fired from any position in the League is referred to by the slang term “getting thirty-foured,” a reference to the 34 votes required to instantly remove the head of state.

  The CEO’s job is to increase profitability. Higher profitability means greater scientific funding. If the CEO does not annually increase scientific funding, she is considered a failure. While the position of CEO is one of the most powerful in the galaxy, there is little glamour involved. The complete lack of job security means new CEOs must produce results quickly and continue to produce results. Most analysts consider it the most demanding position in any known government.

  Many factions within the League vie to put their candidate in the CEO position, for the CEO controls all domestic and foreign policy. While a two-thirds vote of the Scientific Council is the only legal way to remove a CEO, there is a far more common reason for change — death. Of the last fourteen CEOs, only three “got thirty-foured.” The rest died under mysterious circumstances, circumstances that had a tendency to follow bitter in-house debates about the allocation of scientific funding.

  Scientific Council

  Fifty-one scientists make up this powerful governmental body. The Council has two primary tasks: determine the effectiveness of the CEO and allocate funds to the government’s various departments.

  Vacancies on the Council are filled by a majority vote of the remaining members. Candidates are chosen based solely on their scientific accomplishments. All appointments to the Scientific Council are for life. To date, there has been very little controversy regarding new Council members. Positions are always filled by highly accomplished individuals. That is not to say, however, that Council members are free from corruption. Once in place, a Council member is frequently beset by lobbyists from various factions within the League. To control the Scientific Council’s vote is to control the allocation of government funds. Many Council members show a suspicious increase in wealth shortly after their appointment.

  Vice Presidents

  Operation of all non-research governmental management is divided into “divisions.” Each division is led by a Vice President (VP). In this way, League functions are very compartmentalized — a single person is held directly accountable for success and failure. Some divisions, such as the Shipbuilding Division and the Exploration Division, are far more powerful than others.

  The CEO fires and appoints VPs as he or she sees fit. Each VP knows he or she must produce and maintain a highly efficient department to avoid being quickly replaced. In turn, VPs appoint their own staff, hire and fire as they see fit and determine where to invest their available funds into research that benefits the division’s needs.

  At all levels of a division, everyone is accountable to the VP.

  The VP, in turn, has to answer to the CEO. Failure of underlings is not considered an excuse in the League of Planets.

  Like the CEO, the Vice Presidents are under a great deal of pressure to produce. The League does not accept a status quo. A VP who does not show improvement each year is considered a failure. The CEO sets quotas that are not open to debate, no matter how unreasonable they might be. Any VP who misses the quota is usually dismissed in disgrace. Only 65 percent of VPs last more than two years. Only 12 percent have maintained their positions for a decade or more.

  Academic Departments

  Science is the business of the League of Planets. As such, a great deal of governmental bureaucracy is tied up regulating scientific funding.

  The League’s science structure is broken into six main academic departments, each of which encompasses an endless pyramid structure of ever-more-specialized study. Each department is run by a Chancellor. Chancellors of the six major departments are very powerful sentients, dictating how funds are allotted to various sub-departments.

  Academic departments are broken down into colleges, each run by a Dean. Deans, like Chancellors, vie for a percentage of fixed funds. Because Deans decide where money is spent, they are constantly beset by lobbyists. Supplying scientific contracts is a big business, rife with corruption, payoffs, kickbacks and skimming.

  Deans are elected based on their scientific prestige and integrity. While many refuse the temptations of corruption, others succumb to promises of wealth and power. The League, however, has little patience with crooked Deans — anyone convicted of corruption is immediately removed from office and sentenced to a lengthy prison term. If enough doubt is cast on a Dean, but no evidence is available, a Chancellor can remove him or her from office. This strong stance, however, does little to dissuade corruption.

  League of Planets Academic Departments

  Below is a listing of the League of Planets’ primary academic departments:

  Military Engineering

  College of Weapon Design, College of Fighter Engineering, The Armor Research College, etc.

  Civil Engineering

  Architectural College, College of Materials Research, College of Infrastructure Analysis, Communications College, etc.

  Life Sciences

  College of Terran Biology, Exobiology College, College of Psychology, Hydroponics College, etc.

  Planet Sciences

  College of Geophysics, College of Geology, Tectonic College, etc.

  Void Sciences

  College of Quantum Physics, Warp Theory College, College of Astrophysics, etc.

  Artificial Life

  College of Artificial Intelligence, Department of Intellect Upload.

  • • •

  THE TRADE DEADLINE was almost up — if the Krakens were going to make a move to bring in new players, decisions had to be made. Every personnel decision now involved Quentin. He walked into Hokor’s office expecting to find the coach, Gredok the Splithead and Don Pine.

  But Pine wasn’t there.

  “Come in, Barnes,” Hokor said. “Close the door.”

  Quentin did. He was happy he didn’t have to face Pine, but what did this mean? Did Hokor and Gredok finally think Quentin’s input was enough, that they didn’t need the opinion of the veteran? Or, had Gredok lost patience with his lying, expensive backup quarterback who was ruining the life of his starting QB?

  Quentin sat. “We talking trades?”

  “We are,” Hokor said. “We are too thin at defensive back.”

  Quentin nodded. “You can say that again, Your Shortness. But, uh ... where’s Don?”

  Hokor looked at Gredok, whose pedipalps started to twitch.

  “Barnes,” Gredok said. “The contrast between your bursts of intelligence and your bouts of idiocy amaze me.”

  “What?”

  “Pine is not here to talk trades, Barnes, because we’re here to talk about trading Pine.”

  Quentin stared at his diminutive owner, then turned to stare at his diminutive coach. Even with all the trouble Pine had caused, Quentin hadn’t even considered not having the man on the team.

  “Trade Don?”

  Gredok’s pedipalps twitched some more. “So smart on the field, so ... not smart off of it.”

  “But why?”

  “We need defensive backs,” Hokor said. “Pine is advanced in years for his position, but he is still a high-value commodity. Several teams could put Pine in place right now as a starter.”

  “What if I get hurt?”

  “Pine costs me a fortune,” Gredok said. “And he is not playing. If you get hurt, we still have Goldman.”

  Quentin shook his head. “Yitzhak is great for a third-stringer, Gredok, but if I go down and he has to start? We’re in trouble. And then who would we put as the third-string QB?”

  Hokor thought, his pedipalps smoothing abstract circles on his desk. “We might pick one up in the trade. If not, I’m sure Montagne can handle the task.”

  Montagne? As a backup quarterback? Something about that still bothered Quentin.

  “Barnes, listen,” Hokor said. “Hittoni wants Pine. So do the Texas Earthlings. If our cornerbacks Berea or
Wahiawa go down, our best backup is Stockbridge, our nickel back. After her, all we have is Vacaville — a free agent that couldn’t make the roster of any other Tier One team. If we lose Wahiawa or Berea, we’ll be horribly exposed. We can make this trade now, get a top-notch corner and move Pine to a team where he can start.”

  The words slammed around inside Quentin’s head — where he can start. After all the crap Pine had pulled, after hiding his head in the sand and letting Quentin take the blame, he would go start for another team? Like nothing had happened?

  Hell no.

  “Who else can we trade?”

  “You tell me, Barnes. You want to move one of your top-three receivers?”

  “No,” Quentin said. “We’re not trading any receivers. What about Michnik or Khomeni? We’re deep at defensive end.”

  “We can’t,” Gredok said. “Both Michnik and Khomeni have no-trade clauses in their contracts. No one will give us a starting cornerback for a backup defensive end.”

  “It’s Pine,” Hokor said. “Has to be. We need to make a move.”

  Quentin shook his head. “Coach, don’t trade Pine. We’re deep where we need to be deep, at quarterback. He can step in and lead this team just like I can. You know this.”

  And that part, at least, was no lie. Don Pine had lost a step or two, but the old man could still probably win the starting slot at fifteen or sixteen of the twenty-two Tier One teams.

  Hokor looked at Gredok. Gredok met the coach’s gaze, then turned his one eye on Quentin.

  “Barnes, this surprises me,” Gredok said. “After all that Don Pine has done to harm your reputation, to damage this franchise, you are fighting to keep him? He threw games. We would do well to be rid of him.”

  Quentin wanted Pine gone, wanted it bad. But to do that now meant that Pine would get to lead a team again — Pine would get everything he wanted and Quentin would be left holding the bag.

  Careful to control his emotions, to hide his intentions from Gredok, Quentin just shrugged. “It’s your call, Greedy. I’ll support whatever decision you make, but as your quarterback, as your team leader, I am telling you we need Don Pine. Don’t make this trade.”