by Chris Hechtl
“Are we so barbaric that we could do that? I would think we're above such things!” Sorenta De Bauch demanded, clearly aghast at such an outlandish idea. She was a card carrying liberal; one who thought of violence as a horrible barbaric thing that mankind had put behind them. But she was fully aware that there were still barbarians in uniform ready to start fighting at the slightest opportunity.
“Without a strong police presence, who's to stop them?” Alphones asked, acting as one of the moderators. He had taken over the Oliver Twist show and placed his own imprint on it. His ratings had dipped at first. It had been too much of a change too soon, but they'd picked up when the younger generation had taken an interest in him.
He glanced at his co-host Miss De Bauch, then back to Professor Walkins. Professor Walkins thought that was a bit of a stretch. The young man and his female counterpart were really there to throw blood in the water and then let the rest of them duke it out.
Miss De Bauch nodded enthusiastically. “A good question. We should pose it to Lagroose Industries. So far they have invested quite a bit into terraforming and starships. I believe they wish to protect their investment. But I will point out that so far there are only the two companies that have access to extra solar companies anyway.”
“At least for the moment,” Hiram Sayede interjected. Like his learned colleagues he had a doctorate to go with his name. But he didn't mind going by his first name. He was a bit less of a stuffed shirt than Klaus the professor judged.
“Would they answer? I wouldn't in their shoes because it would allow others to know their strategy,” Alphones said.
Klaus nodded. “Ja. True.”
Professor Walkins pursed her lips and then took the momentary slow down to wade in a bit. “Look at what happened to them and the other Megacorps that had invested so much into Venus! When the speculators, scam artists, and finally the UN got involved they pulled out. Now the project is deserted; the world is starting regress back to its past state. To some they are happy with it, but to others it is a lost opportunity. We could have been settling mankind on another world by now if the greedy people had been kept at bay.”
“That isn't true!” De Bauch said, eyes glittering. “They were protecting mankind's right to her own worlds! Preventing a soulless corporation from grabbing it all for themselves is what they were after! They should have at least finished what they started!” she insisted indignantly.
“The corporations invested trillions into the project. What did you expect them to do once they were told they couldn't keep the planet?” the professor asked, looking at Klaus. He frowned but shook his head as well. “They pulled out as any smart investor would do when someone else stepped in to take over and deny them the payoff they'd worked so hard for. A lot of people lost their investments when they were forced to pull out.”
“That is the fault of the corporations! Not the UN!” De Bauch insisted.
Alphones frowned, drumming his finely manicured fingers on the table as Klaus played with his pipe. “I believe this latest attempt by the EETC was a blatant attempt to steal their thunder once again. To make them back down or to surrender after achieving starflight,” he said glancing at the professor. She nodded in reply. “The UN didn't think they could achieve it, and when they did, public opinion hammered them in the polls.” He turned to Hiram who nodded grimly. “Clearly they aren't willing to do that. I am curious as to how far they are willing to go though.”
“To protect their investment? To protect their dream? I'd say as far as it takes. I believe, as you pointed out with Venus, they pulled out but for different reasons. Yes, because of the UN's crap, they tried to take advantage of them on the moment of their success. But outside the solar system is an entire universe waiting to be explored, and yes, exploited,” the professor admitted. “Lagroose can fend off any attempt to take another system. The UN has been … reduced. It is clear they can't rule outside of the atmosphere, look at what they try to do on Earth!” She shook her head in disgust. Everyone knew that the UN was a paper tiger on many subjects. If a large enough nation refused to follow along with the other nations they could cause all sorts of problems. “I believe the expression is herding cats? Now throw in other colonies?”
“Which will resent the UN high handed unilateral acts. The UN will be focused on its own needs and power. Such a situation is ripe for a civil war,” Hiram pointed out darkly.
The others nodded grimly. “So, the UN's best course of action to avoid that is what?” De Bauch demanded. “Give in?”
“For now? I can only say that the UN has to limit itself to the world government it is. If they want to extend their authority beyond Earth, they will need to pull the other colonies into such things as equals. Earth will have one vote, and each of the others will have a vote, including the colonies set up outside Sol,” Hiram said. He glanced at De Bauch then out of the corner of his eye he caught a discussion going on off stage. He turned his head to look that way, catching a couple of producers angrily whispering at each other. From their expressions they weren't happy about the direction the discussion was going.
“An interesting concept, I wonder if it will come to be?” Alphones asked.
Klaus made a disgusted face. “I doubt it. It makes too much sense for that,” he said sarcastically. “Communications would be an issue. A representative government assuredly. A strong one?” He shook his head. “Funding?” Again he shook his head.
“The economics of trade?” Alphones asked. “I'm curious about how that would extend to the colonies. How is Lagroose and others going to make a profit? I can't believe they will make it by charging tickets and freight costs,” he said.
“Such things will have to be worked out,” Klaus replied with a small smile, interrupting Miss De Bauch as she opened her mouth. “And we have to get to that stage of course,” he said. The others nodded. Some reluctantly, others with diffidence.
“What is in it for Pavilion and Lagroose? And the others? The Chinese I get; they need to expand and get off of Earth,” Miss De Bauch said, shaking her head.
“Even with a massive fleet of colony ships they would only be able to transport a tithe of what needs to be moved,” Professor Walking replied, shaking her head. “Each colony ship can carry what, a hundred thousand?” she asked, frowning thoughtfully as she checked her implants. She nodded quickly before the others could say anything. “Yes. Lagroose's first colony ships will carry up to fifty thousand, but the follow-on generation is projected to double that. I think they will max out their life support to do it, however. But that is still a drop in the bucket when you think of all the people who want to go. Who need to go.”
“Why go at all?” Miss De Bauch demanded. “Why put yourself so in debt …” her voice cut off as a thought struck her. “Is that why? They want to indenture people? Make them slaves?” she asked, eyes gleaming. “First their Frankenstein creations and now the human race?” she suggested with a silky voice. Jack saw her reaction from Mars orbit and swore. That would be all over the web within ideas. The very idea appalled him, but people were still bugging his company about the Neos.
“The cost of the ticket is only part of the problem,” Klaus rumbled, playing with his pipe. He ignored Miss De Bauch's dig. “Then you have to factor in the facilities and infrastructure on the new colony. An interesting economic problem. I'd love to see their business plan,” he said.
“If they have one that you'd wish to read,” Hiram said with a frown. “If they would let you see it.”
“We could get a subpoena under the UN renewed Freedom of Information Act of 2155,” Miss De Bauch suggested. She smiled to the camera. “I'm certain many of our viewers would also love this information. I suggest a petition effort be put out in that regard. If enough people put forward a demand, they will surely have to come clean about their intentions. Their true intentions,” she said.
Professor Walkins shook her head in slightly hidden disgust. “Which won't work, they are a corporation. They will
just laugh at you. A corporation that is off world and organized and incorporated on Mars I believe. They are out of the UN's jurisdiction.” Jack nodded. The professor was right. He made a note to keep her in his files. She might serve as a good talking head later.
“Then why are they bothering with sending their lawyers to the UN at all?” De Bauch demanded, annoyed.
“Well, we can but hope and wait and watch,” Alphones said, picking up the cue from the director. He turned to the camera. “We'll be back after these messages,” he said as the program cut to the commercial break. The camera pulled back and then the image cut to a commercial.
Jack shook his head. Centuries of live media broadcast and they still had commercials. He frowned thoughtfully. Dimitri Slevenpol was supposed to have been on that panel as well as a One Earth representative. Dimitri had been delayed in transit, though they could have talked to him through a vid link if they'd put in the effort. The One Earth rep's absence was appealing to him. Was there any truth to the rumors swirling about? They certainly did their best to take advantage of any time a megacorp got into trouble. He frowned thoughtfully.
“I know that look,” Wendy said, coming into his office unannounced. “Something big is on your mind,” she said, coming over to kiss him on the cheek. He turned to her in surprise. She was dressed in a conservative midnight blue business suit. She looked good in it; the pearls were a nice touch. They contrasted nicely with her rose red blouse. What surprised him was that the last he'd heard she'd been on Mars.
“One Earth has been keeping a low profile lately. I'm wondering what is up with that,” he said, indicating the media panel as they came back. He hit the mute. “Normally they'd be all over something like this. There are some rumors they've been behind our troubles,” he said.
“Hmmm,” Wendy said thoughtfully. She turned to the panel. “It could be,” she said after a moment of thought. “Or it could be something else. Or the media is getting tired of them,” she said. “They tend to turn on anyone that shows a hint of strength or trouble,” she said.
“Reminding me that they are a pack of vultures and sharks?” Jack asked. He snorted. “I've known that since before you were born. What brings you by? Finish your classes?”
“Yes, and since I was home mom delegated me to track you down and haul you back to the house for dinner,” she said, tugging on his arm.
-*-*-^-*-*-
Zack Lagroose had taken community college during his junior and high school time; when he graduated high school at twelve, he entered Mars University. Security was an issue; as a Lagroose he was a major target for assassination or kidnapping. Since Charlie had retired to start a family, Roman had hired on several former secret service agents to serve as obvious guards. He also employed a few Neos in more subtle positions. Fortunately for him Zack was very aware of the dangers and didn't resent or try to shake the detail. In fact the young man was too much into them, drawing them out for conversations and competitions at firing ranges and combat video games. He frequently worked out with them as well.
When Yorrick graduated high school slower than his brother, but still a respectable two years earlier than most people did at sixteen, he was elated. Their little sister Wendy blew them all away by getting into junior high when she was eight and high school when she was barely ten. She made it clear to everyone that she was steering herself for a business career and would follow her father's footsteps. She pushed her older brothers, nagging or teasing Yorrick to do better. He resented the prodding.
Yorrick wasn't sure which direction he wanted to go. His sister sabotaged any girlfriends he picked up, so he gave up on that after a couple of years. They only wanted him for his money anyway; Wendy was right about that he reasoned. He was willing to take the fruits they offered then brush them aside. Besides, he wasn't ready to settle down he reasoned. Again, Wendy was right he grudgingly admitted.
He definitely wanted to attend full time college like his brother; however, he couldn't make up his mind about what track to take. The parties interested him more than any of the classes. Zack had told him a few stories that had wet his appetite for more. Zack had taken every hard military ROTC, forensics, investigation, and security courses Mars U and the net had. Now he was off playing special investigator for Roman. Wendy was exploring business education on Mars U with an eye to going to Earth and Yale or possibly Harvard. She kept pushing Yorrick to pick a career and stick with it. His mother did as well, though Jack remained mostly silent on the subject.
Finally, exasperated his mother stuck him in the medicine clinic as a helper to keep him out of her hair. Yorrick resented it at first, but then his empathy kicked in when he noted how they cared for the various injured Neos who came in as patients.
Yorrick, however, wasn't sure what to do career-wise so he stuck to a business and basic educational course. Since he was comfortable in the clinic, he stayed on, helping out in the front and with the paperwork. The staff had learned quickly the boy was very squeamish so they kept him away from the surgery and trauma areas.
Hannah wasn't happy with having a bit of nepotism thrust at her, but she knew Yorrick was a good kid. He was adrift, unsure where he wanted to go. The first day had been a baptism of fire that he'd handled well. But the second had been messy with barf and blood, which had awakened his squeamish side. He'd ended up stressed out and ready to quit. She'd put him on light duty for the remainder of the week to get him acclimated to the job.
He had a chat with Hannah when they had some free time, and she did her best to help him. “You have to understand Yorrick, you are a kid. Everyone is different, we all go in different tracks, have different interests,” Hannah explained.
He frowned thoughtfully as he tried to digest what she said. He finally looked at her, clearly lost.
She cocked her head searching for an example to help him frame it in the proper perspective. One came easily to her right off the top of her head. She adjusted her rump on the stool and made a note to do more exercises. She was spending far too much time with her buttocks glued to the stools as of late. If she wasn't careful, they'd spread until she was a pear. She cleared her throat, getting his attention.
“Jamey … you know my brother. At least his reputation, right?” She asked. Jamey hadn't met the boys, at least as far as Hannah knew. Definitely not Yorrick, the boy hadn't been born when Daedalus left. If he had met Zack, it was when the young man had been rather young. Possibly too young to remember … though that might be in doubt she mused mentally. The Lagroose kids were scary smart in many ways. Yorrick though … he was almost normal. Almost. He was a bit quirky. Very emotional, a follower. Quiet. The boy frowned and looked at her, then nodded. “Well, he went into math and engineering and physics. Now I'm okay with that, I'm passable, but I love this,” she said, lifting a hand to indicate the medical clinic.
He looked about thoughtfully. “You … I've seen you. I've played games with you,” Hannah said, subtly reminding him that she'd babysat him a few times. “I know you, unlike your brother, are into hands-on things. Into things he isn't into. You are different than him, than your dad or mom. Stake out your own path.”
“But I don't know what that path is!” he practically wailed. She sat back, and reminded herself he wasn't quite into puberty, but then again … “I don't know what I want!”
“Then you can take the time and explore a lot of things, right?” Amelia asked from behind them. He turned to frown at her. “Look at me! I'm an Irons, and I'm a doctor! You can be anything you want to be if you put your mind to it.”
“She's right,” Hannah said, nodding as Yorrick's eyes cut from Amelia to her.
“Think of it this way, you are what, ten?”
“Almost,” Yorrick said, hunching his shoulders.
“So, explore the college courses. Check out the web. Look at the careers out there. The sky is literally the limit. If you want, go into one of the virtual MMOs and do some role playing as various characters. Check out the videos on various ca
reers. See if anything grabs your attention.”
“Or, you could wait and just be a kid,” Amelia said to him. Yorrick frowned thoughtfully. “Like you said, you are nine. Give yourself a break!”
“Or that,” Hannah said. “Are you still into sports?” He nodded. “Like what?” She prompted. The discussion dissolved into small talk as he chatted about sports and various clubs he was interested in. When they were finished talking, Yorrick absently thanked her as Aunt Hannah before he left.
Hannah stood there, stunned into consternation over being called an aunt by Zack. “What?” Amelia finally demanded.
“Do I look old? I'm not! I'm not that old!” she demanded.
“Or related,” Amelia teased mildly as she went through the paperwork she was catching up on.
“I guess that's sort of fluid. I did that too,” Hannah said, squirming as she remembered her past.
“True. I think every family does. At least he addresses you with respect. If that is respect. You never know with the younger set,” Amelia said with a hint of a grin.
Hannah's eyes narrowed as she caught that subtle dig. She turned on her assistant with a glower. “Funny. Very funny,” Hannah mock growled, shaking her finger at the unrepentant girl as she snickered with a hand over her mouth, eyes dancing.