Southern Noachis, Mars.
A white tent was erected for the negotiations between the remnants of the EFNSF and the approaching group of armed forces.
Initially, the EFNSF had assumed these to be martian forces. Not so. No flag of the martian sigil was flown.
The artificial gravity necessary for the human body did not exist here. They would need to be near the Wolf’s Coil--wrapped around Mars’ equator-- for such gravity. As such, the members of the two sides all had a somewhat exaggerated bounce as they came together underneath the white tent.
“I am Son, vice-admiral of the EFSF.”
“Ford. Jack Ford.”
Vice-admiral Son examined the man before him for vital details. No sigil of Mars across the deltoid area. Yet seemingly well-equipped in an exo-suit. The EFSF had some reports that hinted at some level of coordination between the martian forces and the belt’s pirates. Were these pirates-turned-mercenaries?
“What faction do you belong to?” There was no point beating around the bush.
“The highest bidder, of course!” Ford laughed as he withdrew a bottle of… something. Two small glasses were placed on the negotiating table, and Ford poured out a clear liquid.
“Martian sorghum. Fermented sorghum is used in a Chinese region for a strong spirit. Not all plants can be easily grown on Mars, but sorghum was one that did. And even evolved. I think it’s even better,” Ford confidently stated his opinion as he opened his visor and drank a small glass of that clear liquid.
Meanwhile, Vice-admiral Son was running an analysis of the clear liquid with the systems of his exosuit. He, too, opened his visor and experienced the somewhat unique taste. He had drunk this type of spirit many times on Earth before. The taste of this type of spirit is meant to be of light aroma.
He discovered that it was more acidic and less sweet, but also contained a sort of unique taste. It must have something to do with the mutation, less sunlight received by Mars, and also the different soil of Mars.
Standing behind Vice-admiral Son, Athena and Einar also received a chance to expand their horizons. Both analyzed the substance and identified nothing suspicious. Athena only took a cautious sip, while Einar downed the shot in one go.
“This is good…” muttered the man.
Vice-admiral Son flinched at Einar’s words. He suspected that Ford was attempting to soften their minds prior to the negotiation.
“Which faction has your service, as of now?” Vice-admiral Son wanted a straight answer.
“Yours, of course!” Ford declared with an arrogant grin. “You need to return to Earth. I know some smugglers. The EFSF will pay me to escort you home. Is that not so?”
Son knew something was off with this group. Finally, he received further information from an engineer.
“Sir.” It was Lenka. “Analysis shows that their gear is mostly of Kasvallian make.”
Vice-admiral Son squinted at Ford, who nonchalantly filled another small glass with the liquor.
“You’re Kasvallian.”
“Yes, but no,” replied Ford. “We are funded but well… put it this way.The Kasvallian Group-- no, the Republic-- will trade captured EFSF soldiers for benefits from the Earth Federation. Now, me and my crew here-- we get little to nothing.”
“So here’s the arrangement,” Ford stated while his men nodded their heads behind him. “We escort you back to Earth through our smuggling channels. You pay us a price per head. It will cost the Earth Federation less than what the Kasvallian Republic will demand.”
“We’ll both be winners!” He raised his glass of clear liquor, waiting for Vice-admiral Son to agree.
Yet before Vice-admiral Son could even consider the deal, Ford had lowered his arm back down.
“I forgot to add. We will need data from your nexarms. I need to bring back something to the boss, to remain in his good graces. You understand?” He then raised his glass again.
They were being effectively coerced. Son knew this. If they did not agree, then Ford might opt to simply alert the Kasvallian Republic of their location.
“How much?” Son clenched his teeth.
“Hm.” Ford swirled the liquor. “How about… two hundred thousand solar credits per head?”
“Are you fucking mad?!” Son smacked a palm down, his glass spilling fluids onto the negotiation table.
“I am deadly serious,” Ford remained seated, calm and composed. “I have to spread it across the many members in my unit and the smugglers. As you know, this war has made the economic situation… tough. And there’s no ending in sight. We’re already barely surviving, unlike you folks on Earth. Some of these people might not even survive the war.”
“I also run the risk of being caught and court-martialed by the Kasvallian Republic. Do you think they could have kept the secret of their ascendency without… extreme measures?”
Although a costly price, Son had to admit that the EFNSF was in desperate straits. The only issue was, will the EFSF pay the price-- Son had some influence, but not enough. Unless…
“As a vice-admiral, I have limited influence,” Son said. “Perhaps a hundred fifty thousand might be barely manageable. However, to convince the high command, I’ll also need something more.”
“And what might that be?” Ford leaned forward, his elbows on his knees.
“Information.” Son narrowed his eyes.
The two gazes met and an understanding was developed.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
“Deal.” The two knocked their glasses against one another.
______________________________________________________________________________
T3ST Colony, October 3, 1000 Solar Era.
“Father.” Xeight stood before Enine in the Chamber of Elders. “Where is Bone? Yfour? Asix?”
“I only called you here,” Enine replied. “How’s… Chimera?”
“Hard to say…” Xeight had no deep understanding of AI. Frankly, no one in the Solar System fully understood how a truly independent AI could even be created in the first place. Coding equipment to recognize voice patterns, to analyze data. That was quite easy. But for an AI to learn, grow, share knowledge and even potentially adopt new behaviors… or even spearhead new behaviors… that was far more complex.
“It seems to have the knowledge of multiple generations yet its speech is… currently similar to ten years old. It also seems to prefer when our minds are paired.”
How odd. Grand Elder Enine could only put this problem to the side for now. There was a much more pressing matter.
“The Kasvallian Republic is rallying all the asteroid colonies of the belt. Tell me your thoughts.” Enin had, in fact, already asked this question to the other three individually. Whatever happens in the next few years might very well define the future of the T3ST colony. Enine wanted the opinions of those he viewed as keys to the future of the T3ST colony.
Bone had no hesitation and believed in the Kasvallian Republic's declaration. Yfour, on the other hand, when questioned without the presence of Bone, seemed unsure. Asix had no opinion. Yet none of them provided any unique explanations for their thoughts.
“I am unsure.” Unlike the other three, Xeight had one advantage-- he had met Vezna, before the man became Syned Vezna. “The Kasvallian Republic should be mostly controlled by Syned Vezna. Wattever occurs would be by his hands, yes?”
Xeight’s words elicited concern in Enine’s heart. Knowledge of the AI Syned had begun to spread. Those news were the reason or Enine’s own doubts. What kind of… being had Syned Vezna become?
Although Syned Vezna’s words were sweet to the ears… with an all-encompassing knowledge available to the AI, combined with the flexibility of the human brain… Yes, the Kasvallian might declare themselves a republic. Yet, would the words of each asteroid colony matter much once they come under a being?
“I believe that it entirely depends on Syned Vezna, and the kind of being that he is.” Xeight’s words helped Enine identify the reasons for his own feelings.
“I met Vezna on Earth. Although our interaction was short… My impression is that this man will relentlessly use every tool available to him to achieve his goals. And if his goal requires war…our family will be but advanced soldiers in his eyes.”
Indeed. That was precisely the problem, Enine thought. It all depended on the nature of Syned Vezna! Was Xeight’s assessment accurate? Grand Elder Enine was also concerned about another possibility-- The T3ST colony might be split in two over this issue. Already, Bone had rallied quite a few members with his enthusiasm.
Then a thought occurred to Enine. Why not? Why not split the T3ST colony in two? He very nearly lambasted himself for having such a thought. This would be against the principles of the ancestors that led the T3ST colony. The principle was that the colony had to remain united in their suffering, to not succumb to their failing bodies caused by the testing of the past or the scrutiny of the EFSF.
Yet, Enine convinced himself that he was not a ‘heretic’ of these principles. Principles exist to support a purpose. This principle might have served the T3ST colony well prior to the war. Currently…not so.
If Xeight’s assessment of Vezna was accurate, then all the members of the T3ST colony would be either used to breed super soldiers, or sent to war for Syned Vezna.
Yet, if they did not side with the Kasvallian Republic… well t,hey couldn’t possibly side with the terrans due to their history. Remaining neutral in such a large-scale war would also raise eyebrows-- their neuro abilities triggered fears in others' hearts.
As for the AI Chimera… what is its purpose?
Grand Elder Enine made his decision. He would send Bone and his supporters as delegates to the Kasvallian Republic Assembly. As for Xeight… Xeight would be the heart of the hidden neutrals of the T3ST colony!
Enine dismissed Xeight and he tapped his neuro circlet to summon the twelve elders. Perhaps the chamber of elders would soon be split in two as well.
______________________________________________________________________________
Pacific City.
In only a week, Nobunaga Mitsui replaced Alexander Varoufakis.
Mitsui had a strong reputation in the military for doing what needed to be done. In these times of uncertainty, many desired such a man to take the reins. A decade ago, the man had been politically pushed out of the EFSF due to his brutal tactics in the belt. Since then, Mitsui entered politics.
He never had much success until the war began. After all, his nature did not mesh well at all with terrans, who had experienced mostly peace for the past millennium. Most terrans had always been, and remain blind to the historical troubles that the EFSF faced in the belt.
His situation had entirely changed in less than a year after the war broke out. The support he now had was resounding. The populace was constantly digging up past statements he had said, decried at the time, now praised as prophetic.
The past no longer mattered. Mitsui took to the podium as the President of the Earth Federation. Before him stood all the various representatives that made up the Earth Federation.
“I am Nobunaga Mitsui, your new president!” He looked around, making sure to stare into every hovering camera device controlled by the reporting stations.
“Many of you already know of me. Read my words. Heard my thoughts.”
“Some of you may have criticized me in the past. Some may have praised me.”
“But there's one thing you all know. I have always fought for Earth, tooth and nail. The soldiers you have contributed to the EFSF? When I was a general, I have always done my very best to ensure their safe return to Earth! If you do not believe me… Compare the survival rates of the units under me against others when deployed to the belt, prior to the war!”
“Let me tell you this! I share your struggles and your pain! I was raised by a single mother. Why? My father perished defending the resource routes from The Belt to Earth. I, too, feel the pain that some of you already feel. My mother struggled to bring me up alone…”
“But she did, bless her soul. I climbed slowly, step-by-step, sometimes a foot forward only to fall two steps back. I still remember barely passing the initial entrance examination into the EFSF.”
“I endured! Eventually, I rose to the station of a general with the success of my units, only to be pushed out of the EFSF for being too brutal in my methods.”
“Once again, I endured! Examine my records and tell me-- was I too brutal, truly? If we had struck down the Belt’s pirates, that would have meant more reliable resource routes-- Mars would have benefited as well! Would they have rebelled then?”
“If Earth and Mars remained united and we had tight control over the belt, would the Kasvallian Group dare to declare itself a republic now?”
“Perhaps some of you may claim all this to be hypothetical. You would be right-- I am the president to guarantee Earth’s prosperity here and now. However, I cannot do this alone-- I will fight to my end as my father did, but every single one of you, even the smallest action, will assist in Earth’s prosperity and maintain the quality of your very own lives.”
“So I call upon you all! The Kasvallian Republic, in the past few decades have sold lower priced second-rate products to the more unfortunate members of our population. We, the Earth Federation and its members will remove all these products from your daily lives, to ensure your safety! The Kasvallians have a powerful AI that is no doubt lurking within these devices.”
“Destroy these products! Your neighbors? Ensure they do not keep these products, which would surely bring harm to your neighborhood.”
“The EFSF and affiliated forces will assist you all in this endeavor! Beware of Kasvallian spies! They will surely resist and attempt to maintain the circulation and usage of these products!”
“Do not hesitate. Earth will prosper! You must do whatever you can to guarantee her future! And I will fight tooth and nail, as I always have!”
The representatives in the sector chamber began clapping. It was a thunderous rancor.