President Van der Westhuizen tried diplomacy, offering to restore the health of planet Earth in exchange for peace. The Grand Council seemed to listen at first, as he preached about ‘Groene Utopie’, revealing details about their green energy technology. But not long after, the memories speak of horrifying events: tricked into signing an agreement, terror engulfs the settlement; the Martians foretelling of their own impending doom, alas with no way to stop it now.
VanWest recognises it matches closely to what Dr VonHelmann showed him when only a child, the interface he showed before fleeing the moon base as a Utopian. His name becomes prominent in their stories, the Martians speaking of a leading diplomat called ‘VonHelmann’, then much younger and with short brownish hair. He seemed genuinely interested in regenerating Earth with this technology, he even agreed to the President’s offer - also advocating for peace in its exchange. Together they signed an interplanetary agreement for the Martians to join the Grand Council as equal partners, thus forming the Universal Council.
Martians cheered as Dr VonHelmann and President Van der Westhuizen signed, with the President’s wife, a pretty and redheaded woman, gifting an amber stone pendant and a book titled Groene Utopie. Opening up the first page, the content translated from Dutch:
Chapter 1: Living a healthy, green life
Chapter 2: Living in harmony with technology
Chapter 3: Excerpts from Philosopher Hans Ashtar
Chapter 4: Treat others as you would like to be treated
Chapter 5: Our earliest explorers - lessons learnt
VanWest realises this book to be the link between Dr VonHelmann and the Utopian religion, there is a chapter on this philosopher Hans Ashtar, who warned on the immorality of machines: its ill-use leading to the end of the Utopian dream. The woman has the same dark green eyes as the little girl, the President’s daughter. But it is the woman’s ring finger that catches his attention most, she wears the same bluish-green emerald ring that Iris now has.
He notices too a bald-headed man intensely watching them from the shadows. Seemingly doing his best to avoid President Van der Westhuizen and his wife, the man looks a lot like Dr King, albeit a much younger version. His long goatee black rather than white. He must have known about the President’s purported psychic sense and thus kept his distance so his own plans could not be unravelled. An ability that he and Dr Schuurman would later try to harness through cloning, the reason for VanWest’s very existence - him being Van der Westhuizen A1.
It was meant to be a historic deal, guaranteeing everlasting peace but it was all a sham; what would later prove to be an elaborate and fatal charade. President Van der Westhuizen’s good judgment clouded by the hope of peace, maybe indeed a ‘naivety’ to trust that humans had goodness in them. Too keen to share his book and teachings, Groene Utopie.
Already the Grand Council’s leading figurehead, Dr King was a most devious man. He even kept Dr VonHelmann in the dark to play his wicked ruse. In so doing, reducing the risk of the Martian President seeing what would happen next. With the creation of the Universal Council, all space neutrality rules were voided, thereafter an armada was mustered. Gifted the amber stone, the key to Mars’s green energy, they were able to pass through their defences.
The Martians in all but a few moments made extinct - a genocide committed. President Van der Westhuizen’s last act: to hide the decorative box, the green energy source in the church. His offer to share this technology could have helped to revitalise Earth and made more planets habitable, but for Dr King Earth’s poor conditions worked to his advantage, as a way to browbeat its inhabitants into submission: to him a sickly Earth and Solar System were optimal. This is where he and Dr VonHelmann fundamentally always differed, even back then, hundreds of years ago.
Nevertheless, it was Dr VonHelmann tasked with bringing this Space armada to Mars and committing this genocide on the Council’s behalf. Given only two choices: to carry out this mission or die with them. He chose to carry it out. President Van der Westhuizen could do nothing, with this amber stone key relinquished, he could not defend his Martians. But in hiding its energy source, Dr VonHelmann was prevented from finding and learning its secrets.
VanWest has reawakened this energy, the Universal Council no longer in possession of its key, the amber stone - the defence is restored. The light turns greener as it rises into the sky, spreading upwards and outwards. The blue pavement stones mirroring its light as the red sand begins to clear. The air becoming even purer, the place is slowly returning back to life.
Eeeee! The sweet sound of the box suddenly changes to a high pitch shrill, like a swarm of bees the light twists and spirals upwards. VanWest spots the SCC-300 uncloaking approximately 30 miles above the church, flanked by two auxiliary spaceships. As envisioned, the Commissioner has come. Knowing of Cydonia, the Council likely too knows why VanWest is here - they have come to stop him.
Zoom! Before the Commissioner can give the instruction for his SCC-300 to fire, the energy catches the first auxiliary Spaceship, cutting through its metal and shattering it into tiny pieces. The second auxiliary ship tries to retreat - only to be struck next and sliced apart. The SCC-300 is higher up and looks able to escape, but the light moves even faster. The green energy able to recognise it as a threat races up and pulverises it on the edge of the mesosphere.
The Commissioner is dead!
The Martian’s shield is active for the first time in over half a millennia, its first act to destroy a powerful Elite and high-ranking Universal Council member. News of the Commissioner’s death will cause shockwaves across Earth and the solar system. A boon to the EaR. This ‘New Beginning’ growing even more realisable.
As the light continues to expand, VanWest activates his Quantum Communicator, sending a series of short messages, using the code 01034589X, Commissioner Dead. Send Out The News. Energy Shield Protects Mars, Geo 7-77. Like with the shield, he assumes that Dr VonHelmann also knows about his clones - ‘evil resides in there’. My Cybernetic Clones In Lab, Trust Protect Iris And LeSouris.
Chapter 16 Earth’s Resistance
Boo-boo! As Method A brings Gangs Hater to the edge of the rooftop, the crowd jeers and calls for his death, ‘Throw him off’!
Method A dangles him from the top of the hollowed skyscraper, One Liberty Plaza. The largest building situated at the westerly end of the PATH subway system. At 55 stories tall, a fall will certainly kill this warlord. Giving her the honour of becoming the one and only warlord of the Jerseyans.
From all territories, many now refugees, the Jerseyans come to bear witness. Gangs Hater will be remembered as a colluder and traitor, who chose to side with the Universal Council after breaking the PATH agreement. In so doing, allowing hundreds of thousands of Jerseyans to be murdered, including Method Bee and Rulez Haah. A dispensable pawn to the Universal Council, he was abandoned by his fair-weather ally Commissioner Ming as the EaRA arrived, much like the Enforcer Colonel Mason was in Queen Elizabeth.
Dr VonHelmann, Pretoria and Captain Kun-lee stand a few steps behind Method A, showing their support as friends of the Jerseyans. The short and bald Dr VonHelmann still presses for Method A to announce her joining of the EaR. He wants more than her just lending her ships to the EaRA, he wants her to be officially part of this alliance and go to Mars with them.
Having already received the good news from VanWest of the Commissioner’s death he’s keen to carry on the momentum. Taking the fight to where his daughter and the others battle. Though the mighty Space Army still outmatches them, especially without Dr King’s death, in the present has never been more achievable.
This news already circulates amongst the Elites and several, including Marcus Vitali, have already requested clemency - asking that no reprisal befalls them. Not quite switching sides as the Huberts have done, they only offer to stay neutral and support the eventual winner. Despite this rag-tag army having far inferior ships than those commanded by Four-star General Vladimir, they know not to underestimate Dr V
onHelmann. Many of their descendants have been killed in Antarctica, and the EaRA have had success in expelling the, now dead, Commissioner from Earth.
Being a shrewd man, Dr VonHelmann opts to grant the Elites their request, at least for the moment - not wanting to have their SCC class ships to contend with. Henceforth, he commands all Utopians to avoid further altercations, including the destruction of Elite owned property.
This time, Dr VonHelmann is quicker to share VanWest’s news with the others, keen to demonstrate the EaR’s success and put further pressure on Method A. However, he instructs them not share this news of the Commissioner’s death, that he wishes to announce himself. He seeks to maximise its gain and impact to convert the masses to Utopianism. His work thus far with these heathens only acceptable due to the Utopian’s fifth commandment, Only work with non-Utopians in order to defeat them - the Universal Council. If the Council were to be gone, it would be a different matter.
* * * * *
‘My dawgz, my peeps’!
Method A calls the attention of the Jerseyans but also that of Antarctica’s citizens, the NEA able to share and relay on rebel channels without interference. This execution is to be broadcast to all of Earth, the EaR and Method A keen to capitalise on the fall of this collaborator, Gangs Hater. Serving as another rallying cry not only to the Jerseyans but also to the Free Enforcers, citizens, Utopians and NEA. An opportune moment for the respective leaders to come to the fore.
After the death of all the Enforcer Colonels, Mathieu, Mason and Cornelius, Captain Kun-lee has become the de facto commander of the Free Enforcers. The situation so intense and violent that another vote has not yet been organised. Kun-lee, once characterised by his hesitance, now makes monumental decision after decision on their behalf: killing Master Jiang, joining the EaRA, fighting in New Jersey and next leading the patrolships to Mars.
Throwing up a shaka sign of respect, Method A announces that ‘New Jersey, New York. East, West become one kingdom. Fair kingdom for all peeps’!
Cheering, the Jerseyans fire their weapons into the air as she soaks up the adulation. Waiting for them to calm, she proceeds with the execution of Gangs Hater, ‘Universal loving traitor gonna die today’!
Gangs Hater lifts his bowed head to tell her to ‘finish it, aye’!
Method A slaps him in the face, causing more rapturous cheering, and gives the crowd another shaka sign. The time has come, Gangs Hater balanced on the edge. This is Jerseyan culture, this is how justice is served. Those who betray PATH can only be given one sentence - death.
‘Throw him’! The crowd chants.
Agh! Without another word exchanged, Method A lets go. Gangs Hater’s deathly screams ending with a loud thump! Marking with it the start of Method A’s ‘New Beginning’ and new status. The crowd throwing up their shaka signs, pledging their allegiance.
Bam-bam-boom-bang! Music starts to play, and the Jerseyans dance in her honour. She is their one warlord, their Queen. Dr VonHelmann walks up to Method A, alongside Pretoria and Captain Kun-lee, keen to discuss again her joining in EaR and coming with them to Mars.
Dr VonHelmann speaks first, ‘Congratulations, Method A. We are truly happy for thy success and know this is a great day for thy peeps. Praise be’!
Method A stops him, ‘What you want? You got my ships’?
Dr VonHelmann smiles, ‘We want you to fully embrace this New Beginning, I believe you know the EaR to be the right PATH’.
Hitting a nerve, Method A replies angrily, ‘What you know about PATH’?
Pretoria continues, ‘Commissioner dead. We make to Mars, kill all Soldier. Make revenge’.
Dr VonHelmann adds, referring to the killing of Space Soldiers - including Major Chromes, ‘Real revenge’!
‘Nah-nah! Not Mars, I defend Earth only’, Method A is still reticent to get involved in what she sees as human, ‘land peeps’, power plays. But more so she worries about the Utopian’s leader and what he seeks.
Losing patience, the doctor points at Gangs Hater’s dead body, still being beaten on the ground, to remind her, ‘Without Earth’s Resistance… Without our trade, thy kingdom will crumble’. Implying that she will meet the same end.
Method A retorts, ‘Old, crazy doctor. You play us all. You doctor like King, aye’!
Pretoria defends, ‘No, VonHelmann good doctor’!
Captain Kun-lee reasons, ‘This isn’t about Doctor VonHelmann, neither is it about Utopianism. The Space Army is mighty. If we don’t unite as one team, one squad, we will all perish! We are in this together, like it or not’.
Method A heeds Captain Kun-lee’s point. Looking at the intense stare of Dr VonHelmann she realises that she has no choice, ‘Gotta first be clear… Jerseyans take no order from land-dwellers. Allies to defend Earth, nothing else’!
Pretoria replies, ‘Make clear’!
Captain Kun-lee, ‘Affirmative’!
‘Aye, I join to Mars, become EaR’.
Dr VonHelmann smiles, as part of the EaR, her ‘peeps’ will be more accessible than ever before - those he seeks to convert next, ‘Praise be! Thy choice is the right choice’.
Pretoria embraces Method A the NEA way, elbow and hand, sealing the alliance. As Captain Kun-lee states, her enemy is now their enemy, their fates are intertwined.
Method A walks over to her ‘sista’ Keys, who has been watching from the side-lines to announce her promotion to second-in-command, ‘Sista, I gotta go with ships to fight Universal. I respect you… You gonna be in charge’.
Method A needs someone on the ground that she can trust. Leaving Sista Pees shocked, she answers in a squeakier voice than usual, ‘My sista, boss, what’?
‘You can handle the kingdom, aye’?
Giving a shaka sign, Keys accepts, ‘You’ve got it’!
‘You gonna make me proud’!
Method A turns back to the crowd, ‘My peeps, we gotta go, get some real revenge on Space Soldier. To Mars’!
The crowd cheers, ‘Kill the space maggots’!
Dr VonHelmann smiles widely as Method A next announces her joining, ‘My peeps, we join Earth’s Resistance, gonna protect Earth together - we one, E-a-R’.
Captain Kun-lee, Dr VonHelmann and Pretoria stand beside her as the crowd chant ‘EaR’!
Pretoria whispers to her, ‘Make ready’?
Method A nods and instructs her ships, including those once Gangs Hater’s, to rise from their cargo bays and merge with the EaRA. Officially as one fighting force.
Houston communicates, ‘We need to leave now. Takes 1 to 2 days to get there as a fleet’.
‘Yes, make go now’! Pretoria agrees.
Captain Kun-lee notifies, ‘The patrolships are ready’.
However, Dr VonHelmann is not quite done. With Earth’s eyes firmly on this rooftop, he deems it the right time to reveal the news of the Commissioner’s death, a calculated move to bring the spotlight back on him and to take credit. He embellishes the success and strength of the EaR to raise his profile further and convert the masses.
‘Citizens, Jerseyans! Let us embrace this New Beginning. We share great news of Commissioner Ming’s dead. Praise be’! The crowd cheers as he continues, ‘The Commissioner has been defeated by our faith and courage. Let us trust. Earth’s resistance grows stronger, united we go forth to the red planet to destroy the Universal Council once and for all’!
Much to Method A’s disconcertment - the others also surprised, he preaches, ‘Embrace this New Beginning, embrace a better way of living, free of evil machines. Let us work to restore Earth’s health as much as possible. Come join in Utopianism and our dream of Utopia can come true’.
Transmitting the following file to all:
Our mission is to rid the world of harmful technologies. The philosopher Hans Ashtar taught us machines would influence the way we behave and that we must resist these machines’ external pressure on our moral decision-making. We must heed his message. As Utopians, these are our five commandments.
T
he Utopian Five Commandments:
Commandment 1. Treat all post 20th-century technology as evil.
Commandment 2. Protect planet Earth, and work to restore it to full health, including its creatures, the forests, grasslands, seas and lakes.
Commandment 3. No man, woman or child shall consume more than is needed. All resources must be evenly spread amongst Earth’s people.
Commandment 4. Only recognise life-forms as those created by God. It is forbidden for man to forge and create new life-forms. This includes A.I. and cyborgs.
Commandment 5. DO NOT serve the Universal Council…
As Method A feared, he has taken this opportunity to further his own agenda, to convert the Jerseyans to Utopianism. Purposely, Dr VonHelmann did not share fully the last commandment - and any other unelected authority. Only work with non-Utopians in order to defeat them. As he did not want to alarm his non-Utopian allies, nevertheless he still very much believes in the latter.
Dr VonHelmann is not done, he next places the spotlight on a surprised Pretoria, declaring the NEA and Utopians are one body, ‘Peeps and citizens, the NEA are the Utopians. We follow in these same commandments’! One of only a few NEA rebels, Pretoria is not a Utopian, but with these words, Dr VonHelmann forces his conversion in front of the masses, thus ‘We are together, NEA-Utopians in the EaR’.
Pretoria isn’t pleased, but as a pragmatic man, he also knows it is not the time to appear divided. He replies, feigning devotion, ‘Praise be, let us trust in Utopia’.
The alliance is now comprised of the NEA-Utopians, and their partners the Jerseyans and Free Enforcers. Pretoria does not look at Dr VonHelmann as he pats him on the back, he communicates to Houston to beam him inside her battleship. Captain Kun-lee also leaves back to his patrolship.
The Present Page 15