15

On the third day, Prime built a housing apartment on the third floor of the Command Center building. It was only temporary, but at least we didn’t have to sleep in the observation room by padding the floor with thermal blankets. I created a cot from Prime’s resources in the station’s hidden bowels. We still had to use thermal blankets as, well, blankets. Fortunately, the heating system was fully back online.

And the pièce de résistance of my day was building a working hot shower from the ice melted outside the station and from the excess condensation from the factories (triple-filtered clean, of course). We hadn’t showered for three days, which boosted everyone’s mood when they finally could clean themselves.

Every day, I found myself in the command center, reviewing the work across all eight stations. (Stations Six, Seven, and Eight docked to the Hyperion network last night). I was excited I was able to speed up some of my builds now that the hub was complete. I made a separate building as my hospital on level eighteen (next to the CC building), where Ben’s men were recovering. I kept them under a temporary induced coma while the nanites ensured no fuck-ups. I told Ben I’d wake them up tomorrow, but he’s starting to trust me enough that he went along with it. After all, I showed him their speedy improvement.

Only First Lieutenant Nick Ochoa was up and walking. He only suffered a broken leg and was up and about for the past twelve hours. I didn’t notice anything weird throughout his recovery, and I thanked Prime for taking care of him. Although I blocked him from entering the CC building, he was free to roam level eighteen, but not the other levels. He complained about how I infringed on his rights and freedom, but when Ben reminded him they were guests and that hundreds of thousands of robots were crawling around Station One that could kill him with one strike, he shut up.

I was glad about it. Spending an hour on Ochoa’s grievances was enough to drive me up the wall.

At least when I was in the command center, it was quiet.

Every morning, I kept an eye on the Orion Sector list, the other forerunner races still fresh on my mind. They still hadn’t contacted me after I showed up on the list for three days.

Class 4 was the highest in this sector, I mused. How powerful are they that they wiped out two forerunner races already?

Amelia, Tom, and Jason had been pouring over the data sent by the spheres looking for the quartz from the Tibetan plateau. They still hadn’t found them. They either found a crevice deep enough to hide under or cloaked themselves with alien technology I hadn’t seen before. Prime hadn’t found my uncle in Syria, and I was worried.

“Cell tower complete,” Prime announced suddenly.

Tom and Amelia froze, and Jason quickly pulled out his phone.

Amelia grabbed his wrist. “Wait! Jason, stop!”

“What? I have to call my mom, babe,” Jason said.

“We shouldn’t call anyone. At least not right now,” Tom said, backing Amelia up.

Amelia placed her hand on his shoulder. “Think about it, Jason. They’re looking for us. Our names and faces are on the news. The authorities must have contacted our families and are probably watching over them.”

“But we’re just letting them know we are okay—oh.” Jason met my eye. “They’re gonna find out about all of this. About you.”

I sighed—Amelia’s right. “More than that,” I said. “I agree with Amelia and Tom. I don’t think we should call our families yet.”

“Can’t Prime make it look like it’s a different number? That way, they wouldn’t know it’s us?”

“It might work, but I had other plans,” I said. I walked over to the console and hailed everyone but Ben and his men to the command center. I needed them to hear what I had in mind.

It took a few minutes before the others trickled into the war room, wondering what was happening. Jason, Tom, and Amelia stayed quiet, waiting for me to speak up.

“Good morning, everyone,” I said. “Prime finished construction of our cell towers. We can now call our families on Earth, but I want you all to hold off on it.”

The others started protesting, but I held my hand to quiet them.

“Look. I plan to announce myself in a few days, but our families need to be safe with us at this station before I do that. Once I make my announcement, my position will put a target on all our families and me. They will ask many questions, maybe even try to take this tech by kidnapping and ransoming them. They can only do that if I die, and then the killing starts again.”

“Can’t you order Prime not to kill if you die?” Rachel asked.

“All forerunner orders are null after they have expired,” Prime added. The others went quiet.

I continued, “From now on, I’m going to ask you not to divulge any information outside this room, especially how to acquire and use it. You are the few people I trust the most. I don’t know how far the government will go to get its hands on it. Either scenario, I die,” I paused, looking at them in the eye.

“What about Lt. Amendola and his men?” Alonso asked. “They’re starting to recover.”

“They know that I was chosen and that I, alone, can control Prime. They don’t know they have to kill me to break that control.”

“And becoming some kind of sovereign,” Jason added.

Amelia crossed her arms. “It will still put a target on your back. What’s stopping them from reporting this to their superiors?”

“I can’t stop them; they can tell whatever they want. It won’t matter in the next day or so. I won’t make it a secret that I am building a fleet and recruiting a lot of soldiers. Beyond that, the lieutenant and his men have no idea what else the technology can do and what I have planned. The less they know, the better. Do you understand?”

They nodded.

“And what exactly are we going to tell the world?” Seth asked.

“A simple one. The aliens chose me.”

“That’s gonna be a hard sell,” Freddie said and looked at Jason. “But worth a try.”

“Good. Prime? From now on, the people in this room have full authority to enter the command center.”

“Variable error. Rank unspecified.”

I dropped my shoulders. Not again. They were all asleep when I planned everything with Prime at the war table. They knew I was building ships, but they were not privy to the whole plan I had in store. I told them everything. I was going to develop multiple fleets (not just one), recruit soldiers, put people in these ships and these stations, and, if possible, cooperate with Earth’s governments to spearhead interplanetary efforts.

I didn’t know how powerful the quartz’s civilization was, but I needed a trusted circle to organize an interstellar coalition with me as the leader. I had not thought about the command structure of my government yet.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“Before anyone says anything, I just want to make sure that you are with me throughout. This war might last forever. I don’t want to stop you from living your life back on Earth and joining me in the fire instead.”

“Of course we are, Tony! I’m not going to abandon you. Not when you have to face all of this alone,” Amelia said.

“I’m with Amelia. Although it’s a bit scary, I won’t pass up being in space!” Jason said.

I shook my head and took a deep breath. “Look, guys, I’m not joking. Once I contact them, we become a separate government—our own country. We are no longer Americans.”

“I didn’t think this is how I renounce my citizenship,” Tom said.

“Since Prime only answers to me, I don’t think I can do it if our government orders me to attack another country. It’s different when you are a soldier on the ground, and you only have a gun in your hand, not knowing what’s behind a corner, but I can create machines that can wipe out an entire city with a single thought. People down there have too many grudges and agendas to settle. We have to form a government here.”

Amelia let out a nervous chuckle. “Well, that’s gonna be a doozy. I don’t particularly know how to create a government, run it, and write laws.” She grew quiet. “And I feel like we’re betraying our country.”

And there it was—betrayal. I’ve served for seven years, and countless times, they drilled into my head the prime duty I had as an American, and I am throwing that away. Tom, Freddie, and Jason shared a concerned look. Seth and Ryan shifted uncomfortably where they stood. I want to say it was that easy, but it wasn’t.

“It does feel like it, yeah?” I sighed and looked down at the combat uniform that I was wearing. “Look, I’m not forcing you all to join me. They’re going to call us traitors. We are Marines that turned against their country. That we turned our backs on our people. Well, I don’t see it that way. We’ve served and bled, and we’d continue to do so, but no longer for Americans. We’re doing it for everyone on Earth. Semper Fi, remember? Always Faithful.

“I am faithful and loyal to the men I served with. I am faithful not only to the US but to everyone on Earth. I am fighting for them, not just for all Americans. This is what’s at stake now. If you don’t want to be a part of it, I can fly you back home and be with your families without the stain of treason on your backs. But if you stay, we’ll build something bigger than anything we could imagine. I don’t want you to do something you’ll regret, but I will drag these motherfuckers out of the solar system no matter what everyone says on Earth.”

They were quiet for a while, mulling what I’d said. Amelia and Jason stepped forward first, gave me a curt nod, and looked at the war table without a single word. They were in. Tom and Freddie nodded next, and Alonso and Rachel gave me a thumbs-up. Ryan and Seth took a moment, looking around and studying everyone’s faces before they nodded at me.

“Is it treason, though?” Jason asked. “Can nine people willingly secede from the US? We’re just giving up our citizenship. That’s not illegal.”

“Not when we have advanced weaponry and tech. They’re going to dig us a grave to get it,” I said. “They might think it belongs to them since Americans found it first.”

“May I add,” Prime interjected. “The forerunner is no longer bound to any laws of Earth. His word is law and absolute. You are now a people of Earth under one galactic representative.” Prime’s claw-like fingers pointed at me.

“In our history, we call that a dictatorship,” I told him. And history doesn’t look kindly on them. “In this case, we’re starting as a classical autocratic junta.”

Tom nudged me and laughed. “No need to brag about your fancy college degree, Tony.”

“We can create a parliament,” Amelia suggested. “And that’s all my ideas. I’ve only had that one political science elective Tony forced me to take last year.”

I smiled. “Yeah, sorry. But that’s a good idea. We can form a civilian government with enough people, maybe like the UN? Let them have a representative to vote for, but we can’t postpone it any longer. In a few hours, I’m going to stand in front of the cameras and announce to the world what is going on and my intentions. I expect a huge backlash. I’m just asking what you want to do here because I can’t force that on you. You can leave while there’s still time. You always have that option.”

“As I said, we’re staying,” Amelia said bluntly. “And since you’re asking what job we should take, I might as well use all the studying I’ve done in the past four years for a civil engineering degree. I reckon you want to build your infrastructure around the hub. You’ll be putting people here soon, and you need a place for them to stay. I can help with that.”

“You want to be my Chief Civil Engineer?”

Amelia nodded. “I like to build stuff so this is going to keep me preoccupied, at least. Until the aliens come back and kill us all.”

I grinned and clasped her shoulder. “With you at the helm, I doubt it. Prime? Designate Amelia Hansen as my—” I paused, thinking. What should I call her? “Hm. Let’s say she’s my Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation.”

“Designation set,” Prime said.

She raised her eyebrow. “A minister now? Fancy. And for transportation?”

“There’s going to be a shit ton of supplies going in and out of this place. Could you handle that? Do you know how to?”

“Oh, please. I didn’t intern for two years at the Bureau for nothing.”

“Good to hear.”

“Plus, minister sounds legitimate,” Jason pointed out. “As for me, I can’t build cities, or know anything about machines, or be smart enough for science, but I know and breathe media. I can be like your PR guy! Once we get the ball rolling, we need to build up our reputation on Earth, and you know that I like to exaggerate. Every government needs a PR department.”

“Like make a propaganda machine?” Alonso asked.

Jason scoffed. “You don’t need to make it sound that worse, man. Bad publicity is good publicity, as they say. I’m a journalism major. I know how to spin a story, and with you planning to recruit soldiers, er, employees, I can work with Prime to create a recruitment video, you know? Propaganda is needed in times of war, and everyone in this room has fought in it.”

“Just promise me, Jason, that you don’t go overboard,” I told him.

Tom and Alonso chuckled. “Yeah, good luck with that,” Alonso muttered.

Jason beamed and ignored them. “You got it, boss! I’ll work with Prime to make some equipment for a studio, cameras, and a sound stage, and I can also recruit a film crew! Or maybe I’ll make a studio warehouse lot!”

I squinted at him.

“Or…you know…not go overboard,” Jason laughed.

“Prime? Designate Jason Navarro as Minister of Communications & Media.”

“Designation set.”

“And Tom, I trusted your judgment countless times on our tours. How does the Ministry of Defense sound to you?”

Tom grinned. “Sounds pretentious and stuck up, but I can work with that.”

“Alonso, Rachel, Freddie, Seth, and Ryan. All of you should help Tom set this ministry up and running. As you know, I’m going to be recruiting soldiers soon, and I need the infrastructure and an organization that will support them. Do you copy?”

Alonso smiled. “Ordering a bunch of people around? Yeah. Count me in.”

“I like the sound of that,” Rachel echoed, giving Alonso a high five.

“But most of us are just cadets,” Freddie pointed out, gesturing to Seth and Ryan. “We can’t help there besides me being a platoon leader and training for OCS. Unlike you and the others, Tony, we’ve never seen real combat.”

“We’re all learning together, Freddie. I won’t put you in a job where I don’t have full confidence you’ll succeed. I know you better than that, and you lead an effective platoon. Make sure these new soldiers will be effective when the fighting comes. Can I count on all of you for that?”

“Yes, staff sergeant!” Freddie, Seth, and Ryan said in unison.

“Good.” I looked around the room, meeting their eager faces. “Everyone got their assignments. Some of you are now government officials of this country that I can’t think of a name just yet.”

Tom laughed. “It’ll get to you, Tony.”

Amelia turned to Jason. “I guess we should start working! What about you, Tony? What are you going to do? Become President?”

“Presidents get voted in. The only vote that counts on this station, unfortunately, is Prime. As much as I want to ponder what kind of government we’re creating, I’m going back to Earth in the meantime.”

They stiffened. “To Earth?” Tom asked.

“I’m going to visit my dad and convince him to come here with Meredith and my brothers. I’ll have to talk to your families too—”

Amelia frowned. “You know my family, Tony. We shouldn’t trust them up here. They should stay down there.”

“Alright. I’m assuming you’re coming with me?”

Amelia nodded.

“But what about me?” Jason asked.

“We don’t know what will happen down there, and it’s safer if I go down with a small squad. I’ll take Alonso and Freddie with me. The rest of you can work with Prime to discuss the details of your new positions and see what you guys come up with. He’s very helpful once you elaborate on what you want him to do.”

“I am at your service, Minister Navarro and Minister Hennig,” Prime said.

Jason flinched. “For some reason, I kinda like the sound of that.”

Tom groaned. “Eh. I guess I have to get used to it now. Are you sure you don’t need any more men down there?”

“I’ll be fine. Can I still trust you with your hawk eyes, Alonso? Haven’t lost touch, did you?”

“Want to bet, cabrón? I shot a rabbit from three hundred meters away last fall. The stew ain’t that bad, either.”

I smiled. “Pack your scope then. It’s only eight in the morning in California. We’ll try to get back before dinner.” That reminded me. “And also, we’ll bring more food and water other than junk food.”

“You want me to get some rabbits?” Alonso chuckled.

“Uh, please? I hadn’t eaten a proper meal since noon,” Rachel said, patting her stomach. “Drinking a bunch of sodas and beer. And then eating beef jerky, Doritos, and sweet pastries are heavy on the belly.”

“Sure, if we have time,” I said. “Don’t worry. I’ll bring steaks.”

I looked at the others, our mostly empty command center, and thought about our unknown future. It was crazy for nine young, inexperienced people, who were only in their twenties, to create a functional government by the end of the month. But wasn’t that around the same age as America’s forefathers were?

One thing at a time, I thought, shaking away the doubts.

“Prepare the ship on dock two,” I said to Prime. “We’ll leave in one hour.”