by Allen Stroud
Now the whole room was empty apart from one woman in the middle seat on the stage. Kandus Laurell, Admiral of the fleet.
‘Hello Bryce,’ she said.
She was younger than him by a fair way, ten years or more. Jander considered saluting, but took the cue from her tone and his hands stayed by their sides. ‘Hello Kandus,’ he said and looked around. ‘Been in here alone?’
‘I let the others out a few minutes before I brought you in. I wanted to give you the news myself.’
‘Sounds ominous,’ Jander said.
Kandus walked out from behind the table and down the steps to the floor. ‘On Earth in the twentieth century there was a man called Macarthur. After a major conflict, he was left to administer the conquered nation of Japan and stayed in power for three years. Afterwards, he took the world to the brink of nuclear war.’
‘What are you accusing me of, Kandus?’ Jander asked.
‘Personally? Nothing,’ Kandus said. ‘But you’ve been out there a long time. You’ve brought Lave into the fold, Diso will follow. You understand why voices around this table are nervous?’
Jander shrugged. ‘I can’t control that.’
‘No, I don’t suppose you can.’
They stared at each other for a moment. Then Kandus sighed. ‘We’re closing the book on all this,’ she said. ‘Digging too deep won’t help anyone.’
Closing the book? Jander frowned. ‘What does that mean for my people?’ he asked.
‘Some to be reassigned, some will stay where they are,’ Kandus said. ‘Combat experience is a valuable thing.’
‘And the Yamorro investigation?’
‘Case closed.’
‘Those dead souls deserve better,’ Jander said.
‘Saves on complications,’ Kandus said.
‘Doesn’t sit well with me.’
‘I’m afraid your opinion won’t matter much, Bryce,’ Kandus replied. ‘You’ll be retiring in the next few days. Some medical issues will appear in your file. I’m sorry.’
Jander glared at her. ‘Maybe I don’t want to retire,’ he said.
‘Don’t fight this, Jander,’ Kandus warned. ‘I know why you gave the order; you thought you were under attack. Maybe you were, but the ship blew up from the inside. If you push, everything comes out. Currently we’ll go with the media spin. Populist revolt, galactic emergency averted. Walden’s the bad guy in all the newcasts and your people just happened to be in the right place at the right time. Privately, the Federation and the Empire won’t wear it. They’ll break Argent Incorporated for this and they’ll want you gone.’
‘And you’re going to give me over?’ Jander laughed bitterly. ‘I sat in this room when it was a gutted shell, back when you were a child.’
‘You’ll be assigned protection.’
‘Fat lot of good that’ll do.’
Kandus sighed. ‘Bryce, you made the choice the moment you went to Lave. You knew the consequences. We need a quiet solution to all this, best for everyone the dead stay at rest. Your career in the military needs to end.’
Jander scratched his chin, inwardly seething. ‘I guess I don’t have much choice.’
Kandus nodded. ‘You’re right.’ She went back to the table, picked up and held out a piece of paper. ‘What do you know about the Riedquat system?’
Jander frowned. ‘Not much,’ he said. ‘Why?’
THE END
Appendix A: Guide to Lave
History
Lave was a dictatorship from before the fall of the Galactic Co-operative. In AD 3174, Doctor Hans Walden, a renowned genetic scientist came to power as part of a military junta, backed by a financial investment company who enabled him to build a private army out of the remaining fleet vessels of the Galactic Co-operative.
Walden used his new found finances well, establishing an authoritarian dictatorship that claimed to place intelligent governance at the heart of his rule. Quotations from the ancient Earth philosopher, Socrates, littered early proclamations. The people accepted the matter without much protest. The previous economic hardships brought about by the fall of the Galactic Co-operative were still remembered. Under Walden there was stability, just not prosperity.
Walden and his followers developed a ruling class from the remaining Galactic Co-operative families, known as the Interstellar circle or Interstellars. This was established by Lave Station’s interdiction on travel to and from the planet.
The privileged maintained inner districts in the major settlements of Lave. These gated communities clustered around each spaceport and made use of orbital windows to trade and transport supplies to Lave Station, where Walden kept his ruling seat.
The majority of the planet remained ignorant of its true place in galactic politics and continued to believe Lave the centre of galactic power. The disinformation perpetuated by Walden's ruling council caused the planetary society's perspective to slew away from reality. Lave no longer commanded respect at the heart of galactic affairs.
By AD 3200, resentment had set in. Walden's ‘cerebral government’ didn’t care much about the planet’s fragile ecology. Carbon export quotas to Imperial space required mass felling of the Lavian forests.
Lave’s place as a regional trade nexus meant there was substantial loyalty towards the system amongst independent privateers. Protests against Walden’s administration began here as the pilots and space traders had less to fear from Walden’s internal security operatives.
At this time, galactic media outlets began to notice that Walden didn’t appear to be ageing. He had assumed power in the system when he looked to be in his early 40s, yet by the start of the 33rd century, he looked much the same. His wiry brown hair just the same, he carried the years lightly.
By AD 3250, it was plain that Walden was using some form of medical treatment to lengthen his life. His final birth records showed him to be one hundred and thirty-six, but he looked no more than fifty.
The Walden Society
Under Walden, the Lave populace divided into two clear social classes. These had existed before, but during his reign, they became more clearly defined.
The Colonial class, descended from the original colonists, made up the majority of Lave’s population and active workforce (approximately eighty-five percent). These people were (and still are) born on Lave and trace their roots back to the 25th and 26th century settlers.
The Interstellar class were families descended from later immigrants, mostly from the Galactic Co-operative sector. These communities were drawn to the planet by its illustrious place as the original home of the Elite Federation of Pilots and long careers in the space lanes brought them a lucrative retirement.
In the major towns and cities of Lave, Interstellar families lived in gated communities around the spaceport. Outside of these communities, the Colonials would make their homes. This arrangement maintained the careful control over people leaving the planet. Most of these communities were run by a prime, appointed by the regional prefect. In most cases, the prime would rely on several notable citizens from the Interstellar community who served as specialist counsel.
In the wider territories, where there was no spaceport access, the Colonials were left to manage their own affairs. These communities were governed by a factor; an intelligent and enlightened individual who had been given a limited education and reported directly to the region’s prime and his counsellors. Day to day life on Lave was difficult for some and luxury for others. In the civilised regions, Colonial citizens were given incremental work quotas to fulfil, which once done, granted them the amenities they required. In the borderlands, these work rewards were directly administered and ‘doled out’ by the local factor.
The Revolution and its Aftermath
The spark that started the revolt remains shrouded in mystery. Some days before the first armed protests, a pilot believed to be a federal agent was shot down over the planet.
Several incidents occurred that required the mobilisation of security forces from Lav
e Station and the garrisons in Ardu. These were blamed on Neudaalese rebels and savages from the northern frontier. However, the storming of the main power regulation plant in Ashoria left the city without power and forced the prefect to impose martial law.
Hours later a media broadcast from Lave Station was interrupted midway through by gunfire and a subsequent transmission on the same channel claimed that Walden had been assassinated.
The wider planetary populace revolted within hours, seizing control of several key government installations. Walden's military forces retaliated by bombarding the planetary capital, but then, out of nowhere, Alliance ships arrived supported by a flotilla of independent privateers and traders known as the Phoenix Brigade, wiping out the Lavian military forces and landing marines to secure the station.
In 3265, it is claimed that Walden died. However, this is still disputed. What is known is that within months, Lave had applied to join the Alliance of Independent Systems.
New democratic elections in 3267, confirmed Lave as a full member and the system began a new path towards a bright future.
In the years after the revolution, Lave has struggled to come to terms with itself. It is clear that some Interstellar communities played a strong part in overthrowing the previous regime, but others were responsible for perpetuating Walden’s rule.
In 3286, the Lavian Reconciliation Committee opened. This organisation is dedicated to publishing historical materials related to Lave’s chequered past. Working with archaeologists and any individual citizen who elected to come forward, the commission has begun to piece together a coherent order of events that reveal the truth behind Walden’s dogma and Lave’s current position in galactic politics. It is seen as an important information source for Lave’s previously isolated populace.
Today, Lave joined the Alliance of Independent Systems during the 33rd century. With Walden gone, there is fresh impetus amongst the populace to forge something new. For many, the lies of the past remain difficult to accept. Whilst formal class divides on Lave no longer exist, old habits are difficult to shake. Few Colonial citizens have made the transition to space and many remain unsure of their new voting rights in Lave’s democracy.
On the planet, the Warlords of Ardu remain a fractious internal problem, balanced against the wealth of the Kadian families in a planetary parliament that is struggling to come to terms with what it means to govern.
Geography of Lave
Lave is the trading centre for the region of systems known as the ‘Old Worlds’ as they were settled in the 24th century, despite a lack of gas giants. They were also renowned for their lawlessness as back then only the corporate states of the region had a police force to speak of. Through some unexplained quirk of nature all systems have just one inhabited world, orbiting a single star.
‘Lave is most famous for its vast rain forests and the Lavian tree grub’ as the main planet used to be described on the now outdated Data on Systems publication from the Elite Federation of Pilots. Much of the rain forest has been cut down and the famous tree grub is extinct. Unfortunately it was very sensitive to its environment and all attempts to breed in captivity failed.
The planet itself is divided into four continental districts. Kadia, Firstfall, Ardu and Neudaal.
Firstfall
The pre-eminence of Ashoria city as the largest human settlement on Lave was determined by the vast raw carbon trade. After the demise of the Galactic Co-operative, Walden struck a deal with Imperial patricians to provide them with technology and cheap raw materials. The ruin of the planet’s natural resources might seem a short-sighted decision to outsiders, but it enabled Walden to establish a full employment economy in the aftermath of Galcop’s fall. Lave's transition from galactic power to backwater was managed with a minimum of injury to the upper classes.
The northlands, where once there were vast rain forests are now dust and ruin. Few people can survive on such harsh ground.
The majority of interplanetary trade is conducted through Ashoria’s markets. Although, all transport of goods is handled at Lave Station. Corporations from Leesti maintain offices amidst the Interstellar communities in the city and there is some limited interaction with Colonials. Grain imports from Diso are regularly delivered as the population would struggle if attempting to live on what can be obtained from Neudaal.
Within Firstfall, the Empire of Achenar maintains a presence through his ambassador. The Empire has always been the region’s major trading power.
Kadia
Second to Firstfall’s pre-eminence, Kadia is a mass of island regions and as such, provides the majority of the planet’s energy through a mix of hydro-electric power and wind generation out on the Kadia Sea. Kadia’s population is the lowest of the planetary regions and consists of mostly retired pilot families. Many own islands in the remote regions and were granted effective sovereignty for substantial credit donations during Walden's regime. In the 34th century, these families have either sold up and left the planet or joined the region’s parliamentary party on the island capital of Sark.
Lave’s geographic database maintains there are more than three thousand inhabited locations across the Kadian Islands, although there may be more.
The Astrogator Corporation offers several excellent excursions to remote Kadian islands where the perpetual sunset sky is considered to be a holiday highlight.
Neudaal
Since 3265, the Lavian Government has wrestled with the problems of Neudaal. Little more than a fiefdom during Walden’s reign, the region remains the planet’s chief source of export goods. Textile, agriculture and component manufacture are its chief businesses.
Settlements in the region are kept small. Towns are ruled by individuals who have schooling and own a selection of books and other materials. The majority of people remain illiterate. Working conditions have remained difficult as each small domain vies for business.
Although several educational initiatives are underway in the region, people still struggle to understand their new found freedom and there is substantial resistance to change. Spaceports here remain under military control. Population movement is minimal, requiring permits and papers.
Ardu
A barely habitable region owing to continual tectonic activity; settlements here are little more than hard bitten industrial platforms, eking out what little natural resources they can from the planet and trading them with corporate clients. The balance of law is difficult to maintain owing to the problems with transport and access. There are some regions that follow the dutiful Neudaal model, but these are outweighed by local warlord fiefs and unstable territories. If a man wanted to hide on Lave, he would hide here.
Asteroid Facilities
In 3254, Lave began tapping what available resources it could from the Castellan Belt, a distant region of asteroids on the edge of the system. The project is home to a processing station, which maintains active trade with Leesti and Riedquat. Arms shipments are also trafficked here.
The Castellan mining complex was the first facility in the system to fall to rebels. There is substantial pride attached to this and the famous Phoenix Brigade maintain an office here.
Warinus
The largest rock in the outer regions of the system. Warinus is a dark and cold honeycomb of ferrous rock pulled around Lave’s star in an irregular orbit. Rudimentary docking facilities are present and military permits are required to access it.
Records indicate the centre of the asteroid was home to a cold storage genetics facility, preserving carefully selected DNA for further experimentation.
After the revolution, military scientists investigated the asteroid’s catacombs but could not map them completely owing to the strong metal content in the stone. The genetics facility has never been located.
Religion
Disaffected colonists who originally landed on Lave immediately discarded the doctrines and beliefs of their past. Instead they revered Lady Luck and believed that their futures were nothing more than the
outcome of random chance.
Over the centuries these early beliefs took hold and tales of the Lady were passed down – a serene figure in white who granted good fortune when she smiled on you. Her names were many, but the ones that were always remembered were The Lady and Randomius Factoria – Our Lady of Fate.
The Galactic Co-operative’s training academy in Lave orbit had an engraving of the Lady on the wall outside the facility’s examination complex. Students who passed their flight exams often claimed that the engraving’s face had shown a smile as they walked through the door.
Timeline of Events
2412 Colonisation of Lave by Imperial citizens.
2422 Departure of exploration missions to Diso, Leesti, Zaonce and Riedquat.
2457 Lave suffers pirate raids from the Iron Cabal and offers armed escorts to traders in the region.
2468 The Empire intervenes at the behest of Lave to crush the Iron Cabal.
3007 Strafing run by anti Galcop rebels.
3114 Recorded birth of ‘Hans Walden’ (Believed to be Walden 2#).
3124 Walden present on Lave Station.
3125 Walden meets Peter Jameson on Lave Station.
3142 Attack on Ashoria by Privateers.
3174 Walden becomes Dictator of Lave.
3190 ‘Pasion’ sold into slavery on Riedquat.