Nearly three hundred years ago the explosion of human space exploration had begun. The earliest explorers had ventured out, slowly at first, planting the flags of dozens of nations on new worlds. The home planet, no longer needed for its resources, became irrelevant. Unable to accept this development, Earth’s most powerful families, mega corporations, politicians, and power brokers schemed to maintain their hegemony. At other times in history, they might have been called Patricians, or Aristocrats, or passed without notice, hiding in plain sight. But they shared the same timeless purpose; to rule at any cost.
Their plan, helped along by Rayker, was subtle, and painstakingly slow. Colonies were infiltrated with members from the cabal. Engineers, scientists, lawyers, and businessmen of all kinds, drawing on their wealth and personal ties, insinuated themselves into colonial society. This interplanetary elite relied on charisma, manipulation, and sometimes bribery to get their way. They did what social networkers do best—make connections, gain followers, and influence decisions.
On Earth, a handful of the most renowned thought leaders created the Central Committee to guide galactic decisions during the direst emergencies. Through their legions of infiltrators, the Committee bribed, seduced, or intimidated colony leaders across the stars. Located in Geneva, the beating heart of a new kind of empire branded itself under the ancient Swiss covenant. When confronted with accusations of imperialism, the Committee fervently denied that was their goal. Ours is not control of a super-state; they claimed to the credulous. Rather, it is a loose association of free communities. A Helvetic League.
With time, and Rayker’s assistance, the League’s grip tightened, and their control became irresistible. But cracks had begun to show in the façade. Cartels ran rampant. Stifling under the bigoted cultural authority of the Adjudicate, colonies grew restless and unruly. Riots and protests might be silenced, but then tens of thousands of pioneers fled out into the void, searching for a new world, and another chance to begin again. Humanity seemed to have a stubborn and willful strain that would not be contained. Every time a new planet was settled, the Adjudicate’s enforcers had to scramble to keep up. Caldera, the newest world, seemed to have entirely broken free of Helvetic influence—the small foothold of Rackeye notwithstanding.
Now, as far as Rayker was concerned, the Helvetic League was a failure. No doctrine of influence, or new technology could change human nature. She argued to her benefactor that only a ruthless and technologically superior authority could bring the species into line. Despite receiving objections, she persisted in her argument. While it was true that such totalitarian states had failed in the past, this time would be different.
As the League’s military sought to covertly interfere in the affairs of the colonies, they had resurrected a long-forgotten type of soldier, for a long-forgotten type of war. Despite setbacks and missteps, the army succeeded in producing several regiments of Special Forces. These elite soldiers could work in the shadows, without need for a strict chain of command. They trained, supported, and fought alongside rebels, cartels, and militias—any faction that could violently oppose an uncooperative planetary government.
Rayker’s vision was to find, amongst those soldiers, men who shared her and her benefactor’s ideals, and use their skills to manage armies of obedient, biologically superior drones. Her benefactor had approved of her plan, and provided the coordinates to the installation on Caldera that held the technology she needed. They tricked Merris and the other Cardinals into believing that the monsters would only be used to scare the colonists, but their true goal was much grander. With scientists who could unlock the installation’s true potential, Rayker’s team would be armed with unstoppable legions. They would build a new empire and usher in a new dawn for humanity.
As she reached the end of the Mont-Blanc bridge, Rayker entered the gardens of the Jardin Anglaise. The area around the old lakeside harbor was a clearing in the heart of the forest of steel skyscrapers. Around the gardens, the buildings were small, stone and baroque. The wide, empty streets were lined with luscious green trees, and peacefully quiet. The quays were filled with wooden yachts, outwardly classical, and romantic in design, but luxurious and modern on the inside.
Rayker could almost imagine walking the streets of the city as it had been before the League. Back then, the humbling peaks of the alps dominated the skyline, while the cliff face of Salève taunted the adventurous day-tripper. Now, only the sheer glass walls of the surrounding mega-structures were visible in the near distance, reflecting their opposites across the lake.
By the lakeside, surrounded by bushes and flowerbeds, Cardinal Yella Crayland waited for her. She wore sunglasses and a dull, inexpensive overcoat, and made a show of inspecting the plants. Rayker watched her for a time, then carefully observed the surrounding officials and businessmen. None were lingering, or too obviously pretending not to notice her.
Satisfied, Rayker moved over to the other woman, likewise pretending to study the plants. She settled her thoughts and brought the character she had created to mind. “Carlotta Divine” was a well-meaning functionary, a true believer in the League, who had gotten into a project that was out of her depth. She would be nervous and anxious not to appear judgmental or disloyal.
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“Ms. Divine,” Crayland said. “Were you followed?” She flashed Rayker a look.
“No, ma’am,” Rayker replied, as she avoided eye contact. Like most Cardinals, the woman was obviously incapable of understanding what incognito meant. “I have my progress report ready for you.”
“Is it as bad as I think it is?” Crayland was unable to disguise the glee in her voice.
“I’m afraid so—the work on Caldera has ground to a halt. As much as I respect all our dedicated public officials, I’m just not convinced they are the best suited to manage this kind of project.”
“There has been much talk about this in the Central Committee. They are asking questions about the lack of progress.”
“Ma’am, perhaps your direct intervention—”
“Out of the question,” Crayland said. “The senior Cardinals are too suspicious of my ambition. That’s why they moved me to Biological Research and gave Special Activities to that clown Merris. If they even caught me here talking to you…”
Rayker blinked slowly as she resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Then they would have ten thousand and one scheming bureaucrats to keep track of, you narcissistic fool. “Unfortunately,” she said, “we can’t proceed to phase two until the department heads agree to make a decision. We simply must have access to your department’s scientists at the base on Caldera.”
Crayland nodded slowly, apparently lost in thought. “It is a shame,” she said eventually, “that our first encounter with intelligent alien life should become so… politicized. I can only imagine what those beings might think of us.”
“A tragedy indeed, however, I take hope in the fact that we haven’t actually encountered these… beings yet, only the works they left behind. Perhaps with a little effort, our society can be developed to the point that we are able to make true contact under better circumstances.”
“You are an optimist, aren’t you, Miss Divine?”
“I like to believe I can get the best out of anyone. All it takes is a little persuasion.”
“Unfortunately, I do not share your view. Can you imagine the impact if news of this discovery got out? There would be chaos, not to mention complete collapse of public confidence in the League. No… we have a long way to go yet. We are fortunate the site is so well hidden, which makes me curious… how were you able to locate it so easily?”
“You must keep this to yourself, ma’am. There was another site, uncovered in a dig on Mars. That’s where we found the coordinates.”
It was an easy fabrication. Everything on Mars was underground, thus difficult to find or access. Crayland wouldn’t want the hassle of trying to track the non-existent “dig” down.
“Strange, I hadn’t heard about it.”
“Merris ordered everything locked down,” Rayker explained. “The records are not available outside the Adjudicate.”
Crayland cocked her head. “Surely the oversight committee would have demanded access…”
“They can’t ask for things they don’t know about.”
“I see—that dinosaur still has some cunning in him. Now, don’t be concerned. I won’t use that information; I know it would make him suspicious. But you must tell me, what is his weakness?”
“Oh, I’d hate to criticize any of my seniors directly—”
“Miss Divine.” Crayland leaned over intently. “This project is of the highest importance to the future of colonized space. We must take whatever steps are necessary to ensure it is kept under strong leadership.”
“Please respect the distance, ma’am,” Rayker said anxiously.
“Yes, of course.” Crayland apologized and moved away a few steps. “But please, tell me what you have to say.”
Rayker let out a sigh and looked away across the lake. She played with a strand of hair to give the impression of nervousness. “Well, I suppose I believe that a certain official is hesitant to move forward due to… indecisiveness.”
“You mean fear?”
“I wouldn’t dream of insulting anybody—”
“No, but I think you’ve made your point clear.” Crayland removed her sunglasses and pretended to study a particularly large flower up close. “So, Merris is a coward… well, this changes things.”
Rayker ran her finger over some rose petals. She tore them off the bud with a quick and subtle hand movement, crushing them between her fingers. “Perhaps he could be swayed,” she suggested, “by a little more pressure from another member of the oversight committee. A respected scientist, say, might convince him to share some control over the project with other departments.”
“You may be right, but I can’t be seen to attack him directly—I have rivals of my own to contend with.”
“The Adjudicate needs a strong, wise figure at its head.”
“I’ve heard rumors,” Crayland said, “that Merriss hired a woman—some kind of gangster—to lead the team on Caldera, and is hiding it from the committee. Is it true? Did you meet her?”
“Only once,” Rayker said, looking ill as she crossed her arms tightly over her chest, “and she didn’t pay me much attention. If half the stories I heard about her are true, then she is certainly a dangerous psychopath.”
“How awful the paths we take to success. And we will do everything in our power to ensure your cover remains secure, Ms. Divine. Have no doubts that we will not leave you alone out there.”
“I have never doubted it.”
“Of course, and I know I don’t have to worry about your loyalty, either. Very well. I will make a few calls, and we will see if we can’t force Merris into a corner.”
“Your leadership and guidance is always appreciated, ma’am.” Rayker turned to go, hesitated to check her surroundings, as a novice conspirator might, then walked away. Behind her, a few crushed petals lay in the grass where she had tossed them.
Several hours later, Rayker felt her shuttle rising into the air as it departed for the Solar Liner and her long trip back to Caldera. She felt her phone buzz and answered the call.
“Yes, Merris?”
“They’re trying to corner me,” he spat. “It’s Crayland again, through her lap dogs this time. I’ve made several calls to the cardinals. You’ll have your students, Rayker, but keep it quiet. And only three or four. They only need to report to you. Just make sure you keep me informed of everything.”
“Of course, Cardinal Merris.”
The call clicked off. Rayker put her feet up on the couch and reached for a bottle of whiskey from the minibar.