The Blue of Antyllus

by Michael E. Gonzales

  “May I see that?” Tanny asked. He handed it up to her without looking into her eyes.

  On the palmtop was Major Mitchel’s report on the operation Wilmington had headed up on Antyllus. The report exposed the secret IIEA operation which would turn the planet into a concentration camp and farm the indigenous population for their blood. With some considerable refinement, the blood of the E’meset was turned into a serum that would cure humans of all ills, and prolong life. On Earth, this rare elixir was provided to the leaders of the member nations. Once hooked, their supply of this life extender became contingent upon their unquestioned support of the IIEA, thus, giving the organization control over the world’s resources.

  The irony was that the mysterious element in the blood of the E’meset came to them through their consumption of the planet’s water. The bios from Earth had feared to drink the water without thorough filtering. There were elements in the water that defied identification. Thus, they had overlooked and denied themselves the water’s benefits, and led the IIEA to commit atrocities.

  The report came replete with visual images. Being a SUB, Major Mitchel’s memories were recorded, as he saw them. Not only did Tanny see the truth of the report in the pictures, but she witnessed the extent of the tumult and sacrifice the major and the others had endured.

  An hour later, Tanny put the device down and looked again at the wounded man on the floor.

  “You want me to believe you knew nothing about this?”

  The man looked slowly up at her and said, “Desperately.”

  Tanny squinted at him.

  “I am not one of those mercenaries you just read about,” he said. “I am…I was…a regularly commissioned US Army officer, detailed to the IIEA. I was a military cartographer, not a combat arms officer. Before this, I only ever shot at paper targets four times a year.”

  Tanny seemed unmoved.

  “Look,” he went on, “we were told that the general in charge of the CDF had gone nuts and he and the indigs were trying to take over the colony. We were told he’d threatened the civilian population. That he was going to vent the outside atmosphere into the city to kill all the humans, leaving only his little army, and of course all the SUBs, alive. We knew we would survive because we all had respirators, but we were told the civilians did not. That was a lie, too. We were lied to by a man we thought we knew, a man we trusted.

  “Now, I’m a criminal. I’ve killed the innocent to help a madman destroy a race of gentle people for profit and power. I’ve become a monster.” He lowered his head.

  Tanny sat down on the floor in front of him and gently touched his knee. “You were used. I’m sure once Major Mitchel knows your story, you’ll be freed.”

  “Freed? Once the idea of living here the rest of my life was my greatest wish, but now…I’m afraid all that awaits me is a prison cell.”

  “Doctor!” It was Nurse Mauldin. “I told you to get some rest—and I meant it!”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Tanny was about to get up when the wounded man asked, “Ma’am, please, what’s your name?”

  “Doctor Eltanie Austrini.”

  “I’m Captain Nash Rastaban. I expected to be shot after capture. Not have my wounds treated and be shown kindness. Thank you.”

  Tanny stood over him a moment. He was truly a contrite and repentant man. A more forlorn looking creature she had never seen. “Good luck to you, Captain,” Tanny offered, and took her leave.

  ○O○

  Before the sun had set on their victory, a discovery was made that shook the entire colony to its foundations. The structure of New Roanoke had, in many places, been so badly damaged that sections had to be evacuated and sealed off.

  Every system had received damage to one extent or another ― environmental equipment, the machinery and controls, food storage and distribution, water filtration, power generation; the list of crises seemed to be growing exponentially by the hour.

  Dave and Kathy knew that the colony was now looking to them for leadership. They had to organize the cleanup and recovery effort. They assigned everyone into work groups. The debris of battle had to be swept away inside and outside the city. Power had to be restored. Food processing, preservation, and distribution had to begin immediately. The reestablishment of communications, both COMdes and Ismay, would be essential to the recovery effort.

  Then there was water. Dave ordered the total sterilization of the water be stopped. The carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfides were still removed, but all else was left in the water. This left the mysterious, healing, life extending elements in the water for the benefit of all who drank it.

  The workforce available to Dave and Kathy consisted of the entire human population of Antyllus, which came to eight thousand eight, counting the mercenaries. Dave also had the zealous assistance of over three thousand Mark 211 Kilo Whiskey maintenance robots. And of course, the E’meset were happily willing to help.

  ○O○

  A solemn and exceedingly sad ceremony was held northwest of the city, inside the protective wall, where the colonists laid to rest their fallen comrades, friends, wives, husbands, and lovers. The price of liberation was acknowledged with the digging of four thousand three hundred ninety-four graves.

  The dead mercenaries were laid to rest some distance to the south. Here nine hundred eighty-seven graves were dug. Many were unknown even to the surviving mercs. The names of these lost men and women would never be discovered.

  Dave ordered that the surviving mercenaries be gathered into one of the dining halls where he addressed them.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, like it or not, you are all now members of this colony. I am here to offer you a choice. You can remain prisoners of war, or you can join the community. As POWs, you will spend the remainder of your lives in confinement. As colonists, you will have all the rights and privileges the rest of us have. You will also share the work and the danger.”

  Dave scanned the faces before him, none changed as he spoke, a few looked down, and some heads shook in the negative.

  “If you accept membership into the community, I will demand your total loyalty to the colony. Breach my trust, and you will be expelled from the city to make your way alone out there…in the blue. All who prefer imprisonment, please rise.”

  No one stood.

  “Welcome to our community. You will face no discrimination here because of your past, but you will be judged on everything you do from this point on. Just like everyone else here.”

  Again, he scanned the audience. Some shared glances, none seemed too happy.

  Dave turned to a large CDF SUB carrying a PDA. “This is Master Sergeant Stacey; he will assign you to work details.”

  Tanny had heard that Dave was going to make the IIEA and mercs this offer, and so she made sure she was in attendance in the dining hall. Looking around she did not notice Captain Rastaban in the room.

  As Dave finished and was headed out, Tanny stopped him, “I beg your pardon, Colonel, sir.”

  Dave stopped and looked down on the woman, he was a head taller. “It’s Major, ma’am. But please, call me Dave.”

  “Well, thank you, Dave. I noticed that not all the prisoners are present here.” Tanny nervously toyed with her PDA.

  “That’s correct. Some are still in hospital, others are on work details. Regardless, all will be made the same offer. Why do you ask?”

  Tanny looked down and added, “I met a young captain of the IDA. He was convinced he was going to be tried and shot, but I—”

  “It’s the IIEA miss,” Dave interrupted. “And unless I find a war criminal among them, I don’t plan on shooting any of them.”

  “I am sorry, Dave.” Tanny looked up. “My name is Eltanie Austrini ― please, call me Tanny—all my friends do.”

  “Oh, Doctor Austrini. Exobiologist. Virginia Institute of Technology. You’ve worked closely with NASA and were stationed at the Joint International Lunar Laboratory before the quake.”

  Tanny’s eyes
popped. “Why yes. How is it you know so much about me?”

  Dave smiled, hoping to put the young woman at ease, “Tanny, I’m a SUB. I have access to all the personnel files through the colony’s Advanced Virtual Acumen Computer, Indra.”

  “Really? Amazing.”

  “What’s your interest in the captain?”

  “Interest?” Tanny brought herself up to her full height and knitted her brow. “I have no interest in the man, sir, I assure you. I have a natural pity for the poor fellow, is all. He explained to me how he and many of his companions were lied to and used by Wilmington. He is greatly depressed because of what he did, and I felt sorry for him. That’s all there is to it, sir.”

  “No need to be defensive, I just—”

  “Defensive? I am most certainly not defensive. I do, however, resent your suggestion that I have an interest in a man I spoke to for only a few minutes.”

  Dave bowed slightly, “I apologize. But again — he will be made the same offer as the others. If he decides to join us, he will be welcome.”

  “And if not?”

  “If not, he will be the sole inmate in our brig. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

  “Oh, Dave,” Tanny reached out and gently touched his elbow as he turned to leave. “I read about your and Colonel Selina’s leadership in saving the people of Antyllus. She’s a remarkable woman. Is she here?”

  “See that blond woman, to your left, twelve meters distant, that’s Kathy. She’s listening.”

  With Dave’s softly spoken words Kathy waved.

  “She can hear us from all the way over there?” Tanny was surprised.

  “Why, yes. She’s a SUB, too.”

  At that instant, Kathy walked up and extended her hand. “Hello, Dr. Doctor Austrini, I’m―”

  “Colonel Selina. I recognized you from―” Tanny paused. “Uh, Dave’s report.”

  “Oh, you saw that? Good, we want everyone to see it.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Kathy smiled, “Please, the name’s Kathy.”

  “Thank you, Kathy. I’m―”

  “Tanny. I heard from over there.”

  Both women chuckled.

  “I am so pleased to have met you both.” Tanny then addressed Dave. “And I’m sorry for snapping at you.”

  “Don’t think any more of it, Tanny. I won’t.” Dave smiled, and he and Kathy left, hand in hand.

  ○O○

  The starship Demeter, in orbit over Antyllus, sent one of its four shuttles down to pick up all the SUBs that were in immediate need of recharge, among them Kathy. They also sent eighteen recharge stations, still in their boxes, down in the other shuttles to replace those destroyed by Wilmington’s maliciousness. Once installed, the future of the remaining SUBs was secure.

  Tanny encountered Dave while Kathy was on the Demeter being recharged. He was sitting alone by a large window, apparently watching it rain. He was obviously quite despondent.

  Tanny approached, cleared her throat and said, “Hello, Dave. Just waiting for Kathy to return?”

  “Ah ― yeah,” Dave got to his feet. “How have you been, Tanny? Have you been assigned living quarters?”

  “Yes. Well, I’m sharing an apartment with another young woman, but we’re getting along just fine.”

  “That’s―ah, good, Tanny. If I can do anything to help, let me know.” Dave bowed slightly, then hurried away. Something was on his mind.

  After returning the freshly recharged SUBs to New Roanoke the Demeter departed Antyllus. With it, in stasis, was Wilmington, and all the evidence needed to convict him and the IIEA of their many crimes.

  Dave and Kathy stood in the command center and watched a holographic projection of the great starship as it left orbit and headed into deep space.

  “Well, darling,” Kathy murmured quietly to Dave. “That’s it, we’re truly on our own now.”

  “I sure hope your right, Mesli.” Dave muttered back, using the E'meset word for honey.

  Chapter 2

  PLOTS AND PLANS

  As the repairs progressed, the colony changed, both inside and out. It lost that sterile military feel and became a town ― a community of human beings who suddenly felt a strong desire to express their humanity in fruitful and creative ways.

  Kathy once told Dave that, after the fight, she wanted to be happy. So, Dave asked the population to make the massive metal structure…happy.

  Paint was lavished over all the facility. Murals were created both inside and out. One, in particular, was painted on the city’s east side, above the air-lock facing the historically significant east gate. The painting was of Kathy and Dave holding hands and smiling. Around them were images of all the heroes of the war of liberation. Zolna and Le’ha, and Mitch and Cassie, were also depicted holding hands.

  ○O○

  It took several weeks before New Roanoke’s physical condition was stabilized.

  Though work continued, and would for some time, things were calm enough now that Le’ha and Kathy began to plan for their weddings. It would be a dual ceremony, a hybrid mix of Earth and E’meset customs.

  Outside, on the east extant of the city, the PEAS, portable emergency atmosphere domes, were erected so the colonists could comfortably participate in the festivities.

  Dave, Kathy, Zolna, and Le’ha stood before all their friends—indeed, before the entire human population of New Roanoke, and so vast a gathering of E’meset as to be uncountable, even by Indra.

  Their vows were both traditional and different: “I, David Mitchel, ask you, Kathy Selina to be my wedded wife. I promise to love you, comfort you, honor and keep you for better or worse, and forsaking all others, be faithful only to you. I'm going to love you till the last star burns out, and then the only light remaining in the universe will be my love for you.”

  Each couple had their own vows, Le’ha made no vow, as the E’meset require no promise between those in sudamine.

  The joy and celebration that exploded that day had not been seen since the day of victory in Fau'Paut'Us.

  After the war, and with the herculean efforts that marked the first weeks of the recovery, and the fact that Dave and Kathy were the most respected and beloved people on the planet, this party became one for the record books.

  ○O○

  Because of their proven leadership, and the great respect they were held in, Kathy and Dave were asked to serve at the city’s leaders, to jointly hold the title of Mayor. They happily accepted. Kathy commented that they both lived for this community, and were willing to do anything they could to ensure its success.

  After a few months, the scars of war were beginning to fade away. The planet remained a wild and dangerous place, and none who lived on it desired to change it, for they saw it as a living thing.

  The colonists, like the E’meset, accepted the riches that Eya’Etee Ki Kee gave them, and never took from her more than what was needed. And as the populations grew, Eya’Etee Ki Kee provided what was necessary. There was never any want.

  Le’ha’s tribe left their secluded cave in the base of the cliff out in the forest and began construction of what would become a magnificent city of stone inside the east gate in the compound which surrounded New Roanoke. They called it Kulan Kaus, “the village of peace.”

  The anthropologists watched closely as the E’meset built their city insisting that Earth engineers not assist in the construction so they could study the E’meset at work. They recorded every step in the construction of their great pyramid.

  The pyramid had smooth sides, like those in Egypt, but its top was flat, and a beautiful temple was constructed there, not unlike the pyramids of the Maya.

  This temple at the top of the pyramid was reached by a magnificent stone stairway that climbed precipitously up the north slope of the structure.

  ○O○

  Not all were pleased with the state of affairs, however. Among the former mercenaries, there grew a great dissatisfaction. They had never planned on remaining the rest
of their lives on this alien world. Their contract with the IIEA included a round trip ticket back home, and receipt of their extraordinary fee. Now, they were trapped on a hostile world, penniless, and by their definition, forced to work as slaves. They saw Mitchel’s promise to provide them the same rights and privileges as the rest of the colonists as hollow. All Mitchel had really promised was a life of back-breaking work and constant danger. The men and women of the mercenary force wanted desperately to go home.

  Among their members was a former merc officer, Major Kuriko, a determined and intolerant woman who very carefully hid her megalomania from everyone ― her comrades, as well as the colonists. She had convinced the former that her paramount concern in life was their early return to Earth.

  Her plan was simple, which appealed to her simple followers: escape from the colony, force their leadership to contact the IIEA, and demand rescue. She had determined that a ship to take them home could arrive in six to ten years. During that time, she and the other mercs would not be slaves.

  Quietly, in places outside Indra’s observation, they laid their plans.

  Kuriko’s people discovered a hidden passage into one of the old water transport pipes under the city and converted it into her headquarters and supply room. Here, they were out from under the omnipresent eyes and ears of Indra. After weeks of reconnaissance, Kuriko discussed her plan with her leaders.

  “Mitchel and the colonists are no longer thinking of internal defense. Oh, they remain prepared against the monsters in the forest,” she said. “But their security is now concentrating on defending against an invasion from space, meaning they are anticipating the return of the IIEA. Their efforts will take them years to complete. With the new trust they have afforded us, we can gain access to secure facilities, command and control centers, and more. With work, along with my intellect, we will have total access to any and everything we will need. Essential information, food, water, clothing, even weapons and ammunition.”

  A merc thrust her fist into the air and shouted, “I say we take de city, and kill all dem that won’t take our orders!”