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Beyond Hope
- Chapter 72 - The ripples before the tsunami[]
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Steal glory from others[]
Star League HQ
Kowloon, Federated Commonwealth (Lyran State)
"You look like hell.” Victor sat across from Focht.
“You try being old and gray while also trying to reform a cult.” Focht answered.
“That bad?”
“This whole plan… The Clans as Peacekeepers, Gateway. I’m too old to keep fighting these battles to make my reforms stick and everytime I think I make some headway I hear the name Elizabeth Ngo-Stiener Davion and it’s suddenly like I’ve taken two steps backwards from where I started.”
“I can’t make her stop. Not without doing…”
“No. I wouldn’t ask you to either. But I need help. Hell, I need to retire.”
“But you don’t have anyone you’d trust to take over for you.”
“Unless I could somehow convince you…”
“I have my realm. There might have been a time I would have taken you up on your offer but my people need me now. More than ever.”
“I understand.”
Focht looked out the window. "It was not always this way." He said quietly. "The hell of it is, Victor, things are getting better, and that's paradoxically made it harder to make reforms stick."
“Still losing that many people to the Word of Blake?” Victor nodded.
"Word of Blake…some of our own internal factions, I have groups pushing for a full secularization right now and conservatives arguing the direct opposite. Then there are sub-groups screaming about the pace of the changes and others pointing out that we're plunging into a situation where everything will spiral out of control under the influence of new technologies."
“I hear a lot of the same things, believe it or not. I don’t have any names I can give you but maybe if you give me some names…”
“We’re really at that point so soon?” Focht shook his head. “No. I don’t think so. That’s an option I want to save as a last resort.”
"What's the Primus saying?" Victor asked.
"Primus Mori? She…her position is largely ceremonial, Victor. You knew that already…"
'I suspected it, you just confirmed it. Why aren't YOU the Primus?" Victor's question was a 'leading' question. Both men knew the real answer, but both hesitated to say it out loud. "You know why."
"Yes, because she's your ablative shield, as you said, 'ceremonial'. Have you even bothered to teach her how to be more than that?"
There it was, laid bare. "I suppose I deserved that." Focht said after a silence.
“If you need help, there it is. Teach her. She can take some of the burden off. Hell, there’s this great series of multimedia offerings on project management, logistics, and leadership by an absolute authority on the subjects that I’d be more than happy to recommend and give you copies of.” Victor offered.
“That could be an option… It’ll take a while. Maybe it is time for Comstar to return to the business of just being the Communications Ministry. Still have a fair bit of cult left to weed out.” Focht nodded.
“One step at a time. Teach Mori first. Then we’ll work on bringing the rest back where it belongs.”
Manei Domini Determination[]
"They're giving the duty of running the Gateways to…" Scylla paused, "Someone else."
“A Pathfinder. From the Golden Age. One of Lady Cameron’s former companions.” Pollux groused.
"It should have been US or Comstar!" She almost snarled, "Not some…fossil who doesn't understand!!" Scylla paused, "She's not even Terran!"
“The Master will have orders for us soon in response to this. He must. We cannot keep sitting idle as we are.” Pollux thumped the table with his fist.
Whatever Scylla was about to say, was choked off as the conference room's door opened, the closed and a strong, clanking gait heralded the arrival.
"Ah, Envy." Apollyon said, "So unbecoming, Scylla, Pollux. The Master does, indeed, have an instruction set for each of you."
“It is my pleasure to serve.” Pollux smiled.
"I am unconcerned with your pleasure, Pollux, or yours, Scylla. The new structure to administrate the Gateways is being finalized in the Star League Council. Scylla, you are to attend to the newly appointed vice-minister in charge of administrating the network, where you will make a very good impression on Rachel Jennings, so good, in fact, that you are to become indispensable to her in her operations, and by extension, influential in how the network and its protocols are handled. Pollux, you will be likewise making yourself very useful to the embryonic Star League Defense Forces, particularly the portions being assembled to support the 'peacekeeping' operations in the Sarna region, where you will make yourself irreplaceable, until such time as The Master deems it necessary that those things are…taken in hand…am I clear on the Master's instruction?"
“Yes, Precentor.” Scylla bowed her head.
“I obey.” Pollux spoke next.
"Good. Castor, you have a different duty."
“I look forward to a new scientific challenge.” Castor nodded.
"Excellent." Apollyon nodded, "The third transfer will happen, and it will happen because it must happen...but we are not doing this stupidly, the Master has a plan."
Charybdis looked across the table at Scylla and smiled.
“I have not forgotten you either, Charybdis. Go with Scylla. Given your relationship I suspect it will be easy for you to do what I am about to say. You will pose as her Husband. Get married for real if you so wish. Given what we know of Spacer sentiment and Miss Jennings own psyche report this should make you two more sympathetic to her.”
Cold Logic Solution[]
Wolf Mountain, North America
Terra (Word of Blake Protectorate)
The projections were getting better, and this is in spite of the factors running directly counter to initial program solutions.
"Alabaster, speak to me." the Cyborg demanded.
"What do you require of me?" Alabaster responded.
"Evaluations, Kolossus, Skynet, Dahak projects?"
The Nirasaki Master system mulled an answer for an eternity. "Kolossus will be the most interesting, it is still embryonic, and has not gained a self identity. Skynet is too primitive and will reach information saturation followed by self-shutdown in just over four more years. The Dahak has not been built yet, but if it follows the design of Kolossus, with improvements aligned to what that project has already completed, it will become a threat to the Third Transfer and the roadmap laid down by Conrad Toyama within two years of activation."
"Solutions?"
"Make the project fail, but in a way that looks 'natural'." the AI had been built here, under Jocasta's reign, and had been left idle after Simon Cameron's death, a secret kept from the First Lord, and thus, from Amaris.
"Only Dahak?"
"Kolossus is likely to remain an 'expert system' focused on general scientific inquiry, as opposed to a sophisticated player. It is harmless and can be allowed to continue." Alabaster projected, "this is within a ninety nine point nine eight seven six five nine percent probability."
"And 'Gateway'?"
"Gateway will be easily adapted to the furtherance of directive aims, and may actually serve to prevent future conflicts as it can be used to control the movement of materials much the way that the HPG grid controls the movement of information. Seizure is, therefore, advised as a priority to guarantee stability once the Third Transfer is complete."
“Not before the Third Transfer?”
"Variables required for completion of the Third Transfer include the securing of the random event Helena Cameron, who must be brought to this site willingly to obtain her release codes as the last serving Directo-General of the Terran Hegemony, only then can the final resources be devoted to restoring centralized order under the directive-appropriate government." Alabaster told him, "Probabilities that this can be coerced are too low to calculate, at least, successful coercion. You must find a means to make it voluntary. Once she has released the lockouts, she will no longer be required."
“Thank you, Alabaster.” he paused, "What of random variable 'Elizabeth Ngo-Steiner-Davion'?"
"That element will cease to be a factor in ten years time, interim efforts to reduce unwanted impacts have proven successful, and termination cycle has been restored, that element is therefore irrelevant except as a means of possibly influencing political factors in ways that favour the ascendency of Manei Deo operations in securing future cooperation, and the elimination of Free Stars survivors."
"Explain?"
"She pisses off the right people, and her supporters draw much of that hostility. Allowing her to continue for the time being will enable the elimination of those undesirable groups that tend to accumulate in her wake." the machine noted.
“Her children.”
"It is indicated that the children should not be targeted when the time comes, but only after both the parents are terminated and their influence has been fully erased. Early removal will risk the intent of the Third Transfer, and may place extant resources necessary going forward at mortal risk.' the machine's screens manifested the face of a Japanese woman in Admiral's uniform from the Star League era, "So, if you still want to kill her, make sure you don't hit the kids, Tom."
“Yes. It is still possible to bring them to the light. It is a shame the same cannot be said for Arthur. His mind put to our purposes would have been an incredible asset. But we can allow him to live a while longer so that we may yet reap the rewards of his discoveries indirectly.”
The image flickered as strings of code flowed, "Recruit him." the AI stated, "if you recruit him, his wife will cease to be a threatening variable. HE is her true weakness. Otherwise, wait for her to expire normally after the treatments fail-her death will make him much more vulnerable to recruiting efforts."
“Perhaps I am being a bit pessimistic. Perhaps that is the key after all.”
"Consider the following; the failed treatment of Elizabeth Ngo followed the path laid down by the first and second generation of attempts to end Cholmann's syndrome, which is why you released that information to NAIS through your agents in the first place. The Clans only have detection and disposal of prenatal samples as their means to prevent the syndrome. It has been nearly a thousand years, and even AI as advanced as myself, were unable to find a means to defeat it entirely-because there is none. The Clans are distracted by the search for a cure that cannot exist, and in so doing, they are simply repeating prior failed efforts. Once the gene sequences were reactivated by your agents, her death was guaranteed."
“Thus our key to recruiting Arthur is ensuring Cholman’s never troubles his children.”
"He will be bereaved, and he will be isolated, a father desperate for an answer, with young children, if you cannot recruit that then further work along this program will be for nought, as you will have proven unable to manage the Third Transfer even with my assistance."
“Yes. I think we have the tools and keys now. If we cannot use them properly, that will be our failing.”
"If you fail, I may have to wait another four hundred years before an opportunity this good comes again." the machine agreed. "I've waited a long time for this one."
“A shame Jonathan is an autistic savant.”
"That WAS unfortunate." the AI agreed, "His health issues especially."
“Perhaps we will have to find a way to encourage Helena to have another child sooner rather than later. After all it would not facilitate anyone’s plans if a radical element ended the Cameron line without a viable heir.”
Encouragement of Education[]
Cameron Residence
Kowloon, Federated Commonwealth (Lyran State)
“Jonathan, come back here!” Helena was chasing after her son who was running around the house with his underwear in hand, buck naked.
“Here we go little man.” Jakob scooped up Jonathan.
“Not little. BIG!” Jonathan countered.
“Sorry. Time for big boy to get dressed though. You have school today.”
“Do I hafta?”
“Hannah will be there.”
Jonathan’s face of mock disgust did not disguise that he was developing a kiddie crush on Elizabeth’s daughter.
“Total daddy’s boy.” Helena shook her head.
Helena kissed her menfolk before returning to the bedroom to finish getting ready for her day today.
From pajamas to the War Witch took her only a few moments but it was long enough that Jakob and Jonathan were already on their way to school.
She followed Bertha and Muhammid to the ground car.
The drive to her office as First Lord had been the usual predictable boredom.
Her first appointment of the day was waiting for her.
“Welcome back Rachel. Been a while.”
“Ayeh. Being a single mom does that. Especially with me getting my cert. Went from wrench turner to Pathfindah.” Rachel smiled.
“Sorry to saddle you with another desk job so soon then.”
“It’s aight. I have my Tessa to raise now. Ivar is raising Eric. Our arrangement is good. Though I’m sorry for skipping out like I did. It was required due to the contract.”
“Everybody is insisting that I approve one of their people to join you in administering Gateway.”
“Let them come. We’ll show them why we’re the ones that are right for the job and how their Innah Wallah politiks ain’t going to mean shit if the job isn’t done right first and foremost.”
“Good to have you back.” Helena smiled.
“Good to be back. Committee was getting boring. This will at least be change of pace.”
End of an Era[]
Kowloon, Federated Commonwealth (Lyran State)
January 12th, 3066
Midsummer's heat beat down across Kowloon's largest inhabited continent under the blaze of two suns at closest approach.
This is what High Summer means-brutal heat, constant light, actual warnings issued in immigrant communities and a spike in sunblock sales and production. (SPF-you-betcha_)
Her Grace walked the line at the Nha Tranh Spaceport wrapped in a Spacer's undersuit hidden under her traditional black wool and white linen. The undersuit has the advantage of a waste-scavenging catheter system, so when she collapses, she doesn't risk the embarrassment of lost bladder and bowel control.
With all the operations going on, the other leaders seem to forget; There are garrisons along the Crimson Shadow Road, and sometimes, there are casualties still coming from the peacekeeping effort.
Today, thirty one boxes with thirty one names were being off-loaded. Thirty one families have had the dreaded knock on thirty one doors, and thirty one officers have had to deliver the news that their sons and daughters were coming home dead.
Their Duchess is here to meet them, because it's her responsibility, and to an extent, her fault.
Hannah followed in her mother's steps, as did Simon, learning their duty through exposure. We are the Ducal family, this is part of that duty.
Her Lord Husband made the final point of the diamond.
Elizabeth met the first box, and laid a hand on it, placing a folded flag, speaking to the cargo master.
Then she stepped to the next box, after returning a salute.
She crumpled in the heat.
Corpsmen rushed to the tarmac, and guards went on alert from their hidden positions, but it was Hannah who cried, and screamed, and tried to shake her mother awake.
Notice reached Helena within minutes.
Elizabeth Anne Ngo Steiner-Davion, Duchess of Kowloon, wife of Arthur and mother of two children, was dead.
Demanding Answers for a Priceless Lost[]
"What killed her? What killed my friend?" Helena demanded.
The best minds in medicine, here already to work on solving the riddle of Cholmann's syndrome, no longer had a patient, but they had an autopsy.
Majery shuffled and squirmed as she struggled with how to explain the cause of death, knowing what it would do to Helena when she finally did figure out how to explain it.
Arthur held the children to him in a chair. Hannah hadn't said a word after the moment she realized her mother was gone, was not going to wake up.
Simon's distress mirrored his father's-a frantic stoic reserve, desperately hiding his loss and distress behind an almost woodenly unemotional face.
Unfortunately for the Health Minister, or perhaps fortunately, Dr. Etienne had no such compunctions, and spoke.
"The treatments failed, they were masking the progress of the disease." He said, "The treatments failed, because they were sabotaged. She did not 'feel' the seizure that killed her, Your Majesty, because the lesions moved to her autonomic nervous system under the stimulus of a tailored cocktail of synthetic proteins designed to reactivate the defective DNA that had been put into dormancy by her treatment at New Avalon."
"What are you saying?" Arthur asked dully.
"Your wife was murdered. Those protein sequences do not happen naturally. It was a bioengineered poison specifically designed to activate the defective codons left over from the Hanoi Clinic Experiments-it would only work on a Cholmann's patient who was in remission, it was tailored to reactivate the defective processes that cause the syndrome, and it was sloppy, shoddy, amateurish, and cruel work."
“Who did it? Do we know who did it?” Helena said with a cold tone.
Majery winced, "It isn't Clan work, Doctor Etienne's right about that. It looks like some of the work from Mayo back in the 28th century, but…evil. This isn't an accident or an attempted treatment, someone wanted the syndrome to advance faster, and designed an agent that would do it. That someone would need to have an extensive knowledge of microbiology, human anatomy, genetics, and biowarfare chops to keep it contained to just that specific victim."
Helena just sat silently in her chair, absorbing the information.
“That doesn’t really answer Helena’s question.” Jakob observed. “Each of the Great Houses are actually quite capable of that sort of work.”
"Motive." Arthur almost groaned, "Who would have a motive? All she was trying to do, was make things better!!"
“Gaia eats her children.” Helena broke her silence with a cold menace. “They have the most to lose by letting Liz continue her work and the most to gain by her death.”
Arthur looked at Helena, and then, at Evelynn. "I have work to do." he said, "Evvie, Helena, could you-?" he nodded to his children, "please?"
"What are you planning, Arthur?" Evelynn asked.
"Terra Delenda Est." he stood up. "There has to be an answer, and it's time we stopped pussy footing around. I'm going to teach them what a Dark Age really means."
Hannah refused to let go of her father.
“Arthur, I’m sorry. But this isn’t the time to do something rash.” Evelyyn said.
"Evelynn, I do nothing rashly, it will be exacting, it will be precise, it will be completely worked out to the smallest detail, and after I am done, nobody will ever think they can get away with something like this ever again." he said, "They took my world from me. I'm going to return the favor."
Jakob looked at his wife, hoping she would say something to stop this madness but she said nothing.
She’s tired of it too. And angry like I’ve never seen her. She wants him to do it.
"As acting Duke, I can't allow that, Arthur." Evelynn said, "You know that. Let the professionals handle this, don't make me place you under arrest."
He was silent, then, he spoke. "Evelynn, Elizabeth loved you, you know, and I know she…would have reservations…" he seemed to crumple a little.
"Think of your children." Evelynn urged. "You're their world now. Let the professionals do their work, Arthur, and if they can't? Then we can talk about vengeance."
He acceded. "We'll try it your way first.” He said. "For my children's sake."
“Arthur, if you want to talk, I’ll keep an open block of time for you on my schedule.” The chill still evident in Helena’s tone.
We could have stopped him? No, see, none of us wanted to stop him. Not really. Too much history, too much wrong, and we were too busy. Elizabeth's death seemed to uncork a lot of things all at once in 3066. She was twenty nine years old when a lesion shut off her autonomic nervous system and killed her mid-step. The lesion was the result of a tailored bio-poison, designed to kill her, to make it look like the Syndrome because it WAS the syndrome. Why would we stop what was coming, when we had the entire Inner Sphere catching fire?
-Justice Giao Pham, 3070.