Travelling to Capital City Lyon

500 years ago the colony fleet Lyon arrived in the system. The various sections of the fleet separated- the rear most, including the fusion reactors, remaining amongst the gas giants to start the Coald colony. The forward section detached, along with the solar arrays and energy shields to become the first Venergy stations, placed closest to their new sun, Lyon. It was the midsection which began to orbit the planet most resembling Earth, the new Habito planet. 

Much of this midsection spread out in orbit around the planet, forming a ring around the equator. Below them scout units sent many thousands of years ago had already done their best to terraform the surface, selecting and genetically modifying flora and fauna so that it would thrive here. Dense greenery covered much of the landmass, a series of shallow seas dotted amongst the forests. 

A siren call rang our throughout the only flat plain along the equator. It's raucous call was followed by a swarm of identification and capture drones. Once all significant life had escaped or been collected the fire fell from the earth. A cascade of burning light scouring the landscape, leaving nothing but ash and rock. It took days to cool, at which point the cable was released. The first descending elevator was in place. A ring from the colony fleet hung from that cable. Slowly it was lowered, metre by metre, to the surface of the planet. As it made contact bolts hammered into the rock, anchors digging deep into the surface. The cable held tight, binding the orbital station the it's planet. This was the first city, port, station, and contact site with the planet. There would be other great cities and states to rise in this new colony, but this was the first. Lyon, it was to be called.

Thus was the Lyon colony fleet's initial mission objectives completed, claiming this star as its own, calling it Lyon, founding Coald and Venergy stations, and making planetfall on a Habito planet, founding a station and a city, both called Lyon.

And this was where Alxi, alongside the Tutors, was going.

The flight from the Coald region took a few days. The craft ran along the solar-stationary cord running from the centre of the system to the edges. Steadily the star Lyon grey closer, and the Habito planet came into view.

Eventually they caught a transfer ship to the external ring that surrounded the planet. There was no fanfare for the deligation, no great news articles to be written, no announcement to the population of their arrival. That would come as the ships from the Scholar Fleet arrived. This was a soft opening only, a few words before the big show.

The external ring was where many of the Habito population lived. The structure steadily spun giving a sense of gravity, allowing a life no unlike that of those on the planet below. Except that the stars where below and the green forests filled the sky.

From here the troop bounced across to the far older interior ring, the original geostationary ring. They floated down the hallways, each pulled along by their small spherical personal drones, until they reached the elevator of Lyon City.

"So, it's going to take us an hour to descend to the surface using a normal cart, then we'll be processed and checked by bio-security again, so we should be at the palace by early evening, as arranged.", the Profess read out from the hologram generator between her hands.

"Must we go through bio-sec again, ma'am", one of the auxiliary Scholars complained, "we've been through four scans already!"

"It's merely a formality", the Profess allowed, "but the check point is at the base. We will be asked questions if we don't simply go through."

Alxi showed his cheery smile.

"So we could just jump?", he ventured.

"Can you... what?"

Still smiling Alxi grabbed handles on the wall pushing off to an area a few metres down where the corridor widened. He opened the storage locker in the wall, pulling out the small hover board as Derrick, his drone, attached to the collection of chains and shield generators above the locker. Chains were spun out by Derrick, attaching onto the board, four points on Alxi's belt and his shoulders. 

"I'm not too sure...", was all the Profess could get out as a door slid open. Only the force field kept the atmosphere stabilised as Alxi and Derrick stared out into the void of space and the world below them.

He pushed off into the void.

Mapping Habito

Continued from Special Service Invitation 

"Sit back, Al. Just relax. We'll do the rest.", the Profess spoke calmly.

He was still at the meeting. They'd discussed and argued, queried and explained. It seemed like hours had passed, though in reality the mind-to-mind relays meant real communication was occurring twice as fast as it a appeared based on the software's projection. Now it was the time to make true use of Alxi and the Habito agent. Side by side they closed their eyes remembering the Habito planet. 

The capital city of Lyon seemed some how different. The sky was neither blue nor grey, the sun neither shone nor was it dark, in the air rain drops hung twinkling in and out of reality. As close as this could be to reality.

Some of the buildings had translucent balconies, advertising campaigns from the last 5 decades flowed and fizzed into one another. People appeared, and then were gone.

The Profess' voice reverberated through the cityscape.

"We are all now witnessing the capital. The holographic scape is a combination of Memories provided by Alxi, our Hagent, and some of the recently deceased. Hence certain particulars will not be shown in robust detail. This, however, will give us the best map of the capital possible for our purposes.", Alxi felt uncomfortable with them in his head like this. He appreciated the Scholars being here, had enjoyed his lessons and their teachings, was glad to be such a star pupil as to have been invited here, and yet he really didn't want them in his head. 

"Why can't you just scan the city?", he asked "I'm sure you'll get a better representation by being there."

There was an appreciative mumble from his tutor, "Gentleman Summerfield doesn't officially know we are here. When he does we will begin with cordial talks, hopefully. I, however, would appreciate a decent battle and evacuation plan prior to active duty in his nation. Should he discover us performing official surveillance before an official meeting he may assume, correctly, that the worst is coming. He may begin preparations for a defense. And whilst he could never win, it would be much safer for all involved if we have some element of surprise. We can't plan for everything like this- your memories only go as far as you remember, and are easily corrupted- but we will have the modern basics enough to know the place, and the people."

"What if I refuse to cooperate? What if I don't want you in my head?"

"Well, firstly you may be putting a great numbe at people at risk by preventing the Enlightened from preparing to remove Summerfield quickly and efficiently. You put such trusted people as your father at risk by preventing the best possible evacuation plan being generated."

"My father's going with you?! To the official introduction?", Alxi burst out in shock and awe.

"Yes. You put him in great danger without cooperation, and me, and the Venergy, and yourself."

"Me?"

"Yes Alxi, do ask I ask and you will be with us when we make planetfall"

"Right, well, best we get one with it then!" Alxi bellowed with pride as he thought of the great and the (occasionally) good he would be meeting.

The viewing position began its movement through all of the capital of Lyon, before moving out into Lyon itself, then out, further, onto the rest of the Habito planet. Over the slums of the 7th, the larder lands, the factory fields, the plains of the dinavians, out to the forest plantations, before the wilds and fellow Habito nations. At times they appeared to walk, then ride, or drive, sometimes flying or swimming, perhaps even moving into orbit to view the entire land.

There was only so much Alxi could provide- the Hagent provided much, and the recently deceased much more, though oftentimes their data was far older. It sparked new ideas in Alxi's mind. During the previous 14 years he had been educated, worked, and travelled the Habito planet. He had been afforded the opportunity to see so much of it, and yet there was so much more to see. So much life, so much beauty, so much wonder.

And he would return to it all, as a guest and tour guide for the Scholars 

The Death of Tubroo

Out there, in the void between and around stars, are many troubling, and troubled people. 

With all the diversity of life and the universe there have always be "free" people. 

Even we, the dead, could not save them. 

They need to be free, and free they will be. 

Freedom is a great and wonderful dream.

The rest of you are forced to care for your loved ones, and they to care for you.

The free feel no such concerns.

Yet, with so little help they suffer.

They won't tell you, but they do.

Some of we, the dead, have been free.

Thus the free must come to the systems, at best to trade and gather supplies.

At worst to raid and pillage.

Depends upon what they need.

Somethings cannot be bought.

They are the "7th", and they are free from the Systems, and free from their own conscious.

Alxi didn't remember much of it. He was only in his 8th ans at the time. His mother was one of the teachers. She'd always been a teacher, both of new pilots and small children. Who ever needed her deep knowledge of the Golems.

Alxi was in a Sphere-pool, a large, joint, unit, a place to learn with others via holo-helmets. He was matched with 5 children, all older than himself . His mother had brought him along before the usual starting stage of 7th ans, initially in preference to sending him to the beautiful, green, kinder-parks. He had got bored and soon joined in the poolers. 

The sirens screamed.

 The learning environment of free floating notes and class mates disappeared from around Alxi. In its place the present Master appeared. "Stay calm and follow your teachers. Stay calm and follow your teachers."

The pool fluid automatically changed. Helmets didn't disengage. Alxi felt his body being forced down into the pool. He screamed. Suddenly a small hand clasped his. Jenny, his best friend, reached out to him. He wouldn't let go for the next two hours.

They all dropped out of the bottom of the pool, the pink liquid and helmets depositing them onto a collection of brightly coloured cushions. Some children were crying, holding their teachers and friends. Others looked about, bright eyed and smiling. They all knew what was coming. The room shifted as the last teacher descended and shuttled them all towards the central bunker terminal.

Outside we, the dead, had been tracking the 7th fleet. 

Some 7th are freedom fighters, some minor colonists, some immigrants, some asylum seekers, some messages, some "prophets", some traders.

These 7th were pirates.

Their fleet was made as all fleet-components are made. 

1 fleet-component, a long, wide circular body, slowly spinning. 

Its trajectory caused it to steadily skim past our System.

1 small craft, 1 larger, discharged from the rim, towards our centres.

These were not the round disks of trading ships.

These were the arrow-darts of war.

Each selected a target.

The largest was flying towards Johnson Alxi and his mother.

Alxi had never seen his mother cry before. She would cry many times in the years afterwards, but never when she thought he could see, and always with her face buried into his faces shoulder. There were no screams to haunt her, no faces to remember. Did she fear what she had done, or what so easily could have been had she not?

Alxi sat buried in cushions with Jenny. She tried to hug him, yet he turned away, fascinated and frightened. 

The central console was a 12 pointed star, a seat placed between each point, facing inwards. All present had agreed upon what must be done. The dead had advised and notes taken. May history accept their decision.

Mrs Johnson sat shaking in her hair.

"Why me?"

"You were selected at random to be one of the twelve", the Master reminded her, "and as a teacher we can trust no other with this task. You have been appointed and selected. Any more hesitation may lead to events you would not wish for."

"Such as?", she sobbed

"Look at your son, Johnson. They are pirates and that is your little son right there.", she looked up. She stared into his face. A young, round, umbre face, surrounded by dark locks, fashioned with fascinated purple eyes. She stood and walked to the centre of the star-console. From it a large, pink, button rose. It exuded heat, fierce, burning heat. She stared at her young son.

"I love you Alxi"

She hit the button and screamed. It burned into the palm of her hand. The brand spelled out her new title, "Defender of the Coald, Tutor of Honour". 

She felt no honour.

The evacuation to the bunkers is necessary before firing the shuttle cannon.

Despite all of the energy we have available, the capacitors for the cannon always need a strong, additional charge.

The Coald are always the first to feel the touch of piracy, being so close to the edge.

Thus they need immensely strong shields, but also weapons.

There is no giant laserable source such as the Venergy have though, being nearest to the star.

A teacher is selected at random.

They are the best of us all.

Kind, knowledgable, and intelligent, only they can be trusted to not to wield this power irresponsibly.

Yet they are still branded in the act, whilst surrounded by their students, and watched by 11.

Some the act will break.

It is necessary, and it is rare.

The shuttle is a relatively simple device. Only 5 of the deep-dead are required to pilot it- their final act of anger and love. It is accelerated in many different ways, combining to hammer it out towards the raiders. One shot. All there is. All that we should need.

As it travels laser weapons are fired, torpedoes launched, slugs ejected, and the plasma reactor prepared. Some of the weapons from the shuttle will get through, destroying shields, removing armour, perhaps even decompressing the ship. The finale is the hardest part though. The deep-dead correct the craft, extending its multiple fins, preparing them to discharge.

The Pirates always try to evade. It's a sensible option. Hence the fins- to catch what might be a glance and cause penetration whilst altering the Pirates' craft's course. Normally the dead make it though. Normally, as on this day, the Coald station is not only saved, but also the Pirates removed.

The shuttle's prow splintered as it hit a reawakened shield. It ploughed into the prow of the 7th's vessel, was split open by the force. As the armour came loose the chassis came forth, biting into the ship, cracking viewing port, stripping the inhabitants of protection. Then the plasma generator detonated. A new star flashed into existence. All were incinerated. No full bodies would be found. Only a few of the dead returned.

Alxi was safe.

Tubroo was not.

The craft that was launched at Tubroo was smaller. After their last raid, a system recently "Enlightened", they had gathered up the newest experimental tech that the Tutors had left. Crudely hammered onto the little craft with a few improvements, new armour, shields, sensors, and weapons had been enough.

The screams of Tubroo were broadcast across the System.

Before the station's generator destabilised.

Another star. Another end.

Johnson Alxi's Last Morning of Freedom

The black absorbed the light into infinity. Only pin pricks of light shone in the dark, other systems, old, new, undiscovered. A trillion trillion people out there, floating in the Ken. Was there anyone beyond? Who knew? Who cared? Just another day, another denarii.

Alxi  didn't see the new light, larger than most, moving closer.

The apartment included nearly everything Alxi needed. It's floor was transparent, the ceiling lights shining out into space. In one corner sat the long forgotten bed, in another his occupied Golem Control Sphere, the unit that allowed his control of the ginormous mining suits. The giant goldfish bowl was filled with a pink translucent nanite fluid, bouying him up, before carrying his waking form up to the surface. 

As he breached through the hole of what was normally his work space his helmet released itself and the nanites slid back into the Sphere. He took a deep breath of the clear crisp air and shook out his short black curls. He kept the air cooler than most, helped him wake up, reminded him of the weather at university. Wasn't working this morning though. He'd been back 9 weeks- it was nice to be home with the Cauld, but the boredom was building. He slid his body out onto the platform and onto the floor.

Stretching to his full height the Synchskin suit expanded and fell from his body. His mother would kill him if she knew he was sleeping in the Sphere again. The skin slithered itself into the closet. Stepping into the cubicle, the walls began to hammer out cleansing fluid, followed by the gales of warm air which enveloped his body. Finally he picked up the proffered pill. The bacteria within were ancient, some bioengineered to live on his teeth, keeping them clean, others travelled to his intestines, helping digestion and health.

Outside his day skin slithered out and onto him, along with his paired ward stones, warn either side of the hip. He stretched and the suit snuggled up against him. His mother would kill him if he walked out to breakfast so exposed. It had been all the rage to go Synchskin only on the Habito planet. He reached for the belt and passed it round his waist. It made a small whirring noise before the tartan cloth printed out, the cloth surrounding his legs, with a loose loop to stretch over his left shoulder. As he stood there Derrick the Drone rose from the shelving, levitating in the air before him. The drone was a round bubble, filled with helium, surrounded by electronics.

"Morning Boss", he lazily mumbled, "wish you'd turn heat up, it's neh good for your health"

"Not now mate", Alxi replied, "just give me some news"

"Fine... The council meeting has been moved forward to today. They haven't said why, must be something important. Your Dad's been invited. Won't manage it in person now though, of course, digi will do... Not much new with the Venergy or Habito- General Guedo and Gentleman Summerfield are carrying on as ever... The Habito Forestry found a replacement for your position, Jenny's cousin, Dabad. Nice guy, keeps off the Rose, but likes a drink... Oh, and your sister just got given her application forms. No idea if she'll come back, seems to like the Venergy. She's got a month to decide."

"And the racing?"

"Erm, two pigs pulled out, couldn't finish the maze. Duo did ok though, 3rd place. You wanting to sell your syndicate shares to Dabad?"

"I'll think about it"

"Not thinking of going back already, I hope?"

"Nah, just, well...", Alxi shrugged his shoulders, "I just miss Uni."

He trudged through the doorway that slid open before him.

In the communal area the large oval tables had been arranged. At each sat various families, starting their day together with various travellers and interns. He smiled to himself as he noticed Phell with the Thompsons across the way. She was an intern. A beautiful, beguiling, Venergy-born intern. 

"Come on lad, stop staring. Don't survey a site unless you'll mine her.", his bushy bearded father clapped him on the shoulder, bright and happy, ready for another morning, "I hope you're ready for another bollocking from your mother"

The jovial smile disappeared, "what have a done now?" 

"She went out for a walk last night. You forgot to opaque your floor again. She was furious"

"Thanks for the warning"

At the family table Mrs Johnson was fussing over the family's newest addition, 3 year old Dek. Off to his side Dodge slept in her bed, the young augmented maternity hound sleeping off another night of caring for the small child. Mrs Johnson relented her persistent attempts to get the child to eat his spaghetti loops cleanly, leaving him to play with his holographic dairy farm.

She collected herself beautifully before walking towards her eldest son.

"Good morning, Alxi", she was always a stickler for formal greetings to start the day. They touched noses, as family and close friends did, and each used the left hand to grasp the others right shoulder. Alxi, normally trusting his instinct, made sure only his 3rd digit placed more pressure than the others. He felt his mother's thumb jab stiffly.

No drones came to deliver breakfast when they sat. Time for trouble. His mother took a deep breath.

"Johnson Alxi. What have I told you about sleeping in your Sphere?", it was nearly a growl.

"Don't do it. The research says a bed is better, especially for young people. They are not programmed to look after the young. If it wasn't for your grandmother you'd never have even started piloting as young as you did... Oh, and it's disgusting that I'm in there day and night."

"Yet you still do it"

"Mum, I'm not a young person anymore. I'm 28, I've graduated! And I don't like beds. I'm not used to them. They're cold. And the Sphere keeps its fluid clean, it's not that bad."

"Darling, just try it. Put the heat up in your room. You'll get used to it."

"And all else fails", his father advised, "we'll find you a reason to go to bed. I don't know, maybe Phell?", his father winked as Alxi slumped further. His mother smirked.

"Excellent idea, I'll invite Phell over to join us tonight. Phell's been a wonderful student for me, Alex. I like Phell."

Dek suddenly shouted out,

"PHELL! PHELL! PHELL!", causing her and the Thompson's to look across the room. Alex met her shining amber eyes, involuntarily smiling. She smiled back. He winked. She laughed, shook her head, and turned back to her hosts.

Over their last ever breakfast together, the event that would change life forever was brought up.

"Any idea what the council meeting's about?"

"No idea, lad."

"But they brought it forward so quickly. Must be something serious"

"Well, do you want to sit in on it?", his father casually suggested. Alxi was stunned.

"Totally!"

"Right, go get me some mineral. I'll see you at lunch"