As we embrace our new world, we also embrace new ways. We have opened our minds to the Freeminder movement, and are planning to experiment with many of their proposed reforms.
In this, I believe we have returned to the core values of the Ghost Bears. We seek to build a new kind of life centered around family and a more complete unity with the Inner Sphere. We may even be setting out on the true road to the Hidden Hope Doctrine that the Great Falher put forth more than three centuries ago.
I know that many of you will consider this an abomination, a dishonorable abandonment of the Clan way and the Honor Road. You may even say that we have turned our back on our Clan.
I say that this is not so. We are still Ghost Bears. We are still Clan. But we are Vegans first. We are citizens of the Inner Sphere first, and Clan second. That is how it must be.
It is in your power to cut us off, to expel us, even to annihilate us, but I suggest to you that this would not be in your best interests. I will give you four reasons why.
First, we have restored stability to this world, which was our purpose in coming here, and we will do our best to extend that stability beyond the confines of this world. Already we have extended an invitation to the prefecture government to return to Vega, its traditional homeworld. To attack us would be to undo this good work here, and more.
Second, we are already working to reestablish Vega as an industrial power. Advanced myomer production has already been restored, and combining our Clan technical knowledge with local expertise I expect Vega will again produce the finest product in the Sphere. The metal mills will soon become fully operational, long before ready supplies of salvage metal dwindle. Resources and facilities on Vega are ideal for producing Clan-technology memory metals, perhaps at a cost that allows them to be used for residential and industrial uses and not merely specialized, portable military structures. The Industrial Mech plants are also coming back into operation. It may interest you to know that we also are looking into restoring Vega's historical production of BattleMechs.
We will be rich. We will be strong. But the Rasalhague Dominion is our first choice of trading partner, and I hope that relationship will be a long and fruitful one. I would not like our advanced myomer production to go to your enemies instead.
Third, we will open our borders to others of the Ghost Bears who seek freedom and the right of family.
We will not be a dumping ground for your underperforming malcontents and dezgrates. They are your problem, and you can keep them.
But for those with courage, honor and a true desire for freedom, they will find a place with us, and you will be free of their disruptive influences in your midst. You see them as poison to the purity of the Clan way. We see them as new blood. This arrangement serves both our wishes. Let history decide which of us is right.
Fourth, we offer ourselves up as a great experiment that the rest of the Ghost Bears can observe. If our path leads to failure, you will be vindicated, and can steer far from our path. If it leads to glory then, if you choose, you may follow.
Perhaps the Freeminders' Final Codex is truly the word of our Founder, or perhaps it is not. I offer no opinion on the matter. I only say that, if these are truly his words, then the success of our experiment here on Vega will prove it, and we can lead the rest of you into a new age, and the ultimate fulfillment of our destiny.
If not, then we will fail, and you will have been saved from our poison. This is our trial. I beg you, as a matter of honor, do not break the Circle of Equals. Let the trial play out and let our ideas succeed or fail on their own merits.
I give you a fifth point: if, after all this, you still seek to do us harm or interfere in our actions here on Vega, you will discover, as did the Draconis Combine, that we are not weak and we are not afraid. We love Vega, each and every one of us, Clan and non-Clan alike, and we will fight to the death to defend her, even against our own.
Already we work to rebuild our forces and field a new contingent of native Vegan warriors trained by the Omega Galaxy. In addition, we have offered the Twelfth Vega Rangers a new base of operations in exchange for a mutual defense pact.
This said, I harbor no illusions. I know that if the Ghost Bears bring their full might to bear against us, we cannot win. But we will fight to the end. You will pay dearly for your victory, and I warn you, as one Clansman to another—it will be inefficient!
Galaxy Commander Isis Bekker-Florala Commander, Claws of Vega Vega Protectorate
About the Author
J. Steven York has written and published novels, short stories, nonfiction books and software manuals. He's also written for computer games, radio, video and film. He's dabbled in the world of Robert H. Howard's Conan, Star Trek, Marvel Comics' X-mutants and several universes of giant combat robots. Someday he should really figure out what he wants to be when he grows up.
He lives on the Oregon coast with his wife, fellow writer and occasional collaborator, Christina F. York. They share their living space with one cat, several hundred toy robots and a regiment of GI Joes. Readers can contact him through his Web site at www.yorkwriters.com.
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About the Author
Trial by Chaos Page 28