Deep inside Second Axis, Fox and his group were following this one strange skinned ape with four others walking behind them, guns slightly raised. As they were being lead down the hall, Fox couldn't help but notice that they were being observed from behind doors and around corners. It was as if they had never seen anyone like them before.
Almost as if the lead ape was reading his thoughts, Bluestone said, "Forgive my men, we've been asleep for a long time. Even though they knew it was a possibility, they probably didn't expect to run into another form of intelligent life."
Krystal looked at him and said, "What do you mean by asleep?"
Bluestone replied, "Everything as you can see must be quite primitive by your standards.
The same can be said for this places engines as well. This project started as soon as we perfected cryogenics. When we left home, we were all in a state of suspended animation; this facility's computer guided our faculty from star to star looking for a new home. Eventually we came here, where our computer found that the fifth planet from the star is suitable for our needs and thus woke us up. I shall admit, 1500 years in our time for our ship to find an inhabitable world surprises me. I thought it would take much longer."
Fox and his crew were now staring at Bluestone as if he was somewhat crazy.
Katt cut in first and said, "That's completely impossible! Cryogenics has only been around for about 7 or 8 decades. Also it is only used for medical. Such prolonged use is still a question of debate."
Before Katt could continue Krystal added, "I see. Exactly how many beings are on this asteroid?"
Bluestone answered, "Currently all 10, 000 of our military personnel are awake. The other 15, 000 are personnel families or reserves. The reserves are slowly awakening and should all be awake in 3 days of our time. The civilians will remain asleep until construction of a suitable settlement is nearly complete."
Falco said, "Wait—time out! You're saying there are 25,000 of you guys inside this rock, you've been frozen for a century and a half and now you are waking up to colonize some out of the way planet?"
Bluestone said, "Well in crude laymen's terms—yes."
Bluestone then opened a side door and said, "Go right on in, this is a personnel break room, but I've had my guards to secure it for our continuing discussion."
The instant Fox walked in he yelled, "Bill are you o.k.?"
Bill looked up and said, "Fox? Damm, what the hell are you doing here?"
Fox simply scratched the back of his head and said, "Believe it or not that asshole Michael's hired us to find out what the hell happened to you."
Bill cracked up laughing, "Michaels did that! All the rebuilding must have him spread very thin if he was willing to contract you—I heard he'd rather shoot himself in the gut than have mercenaries do military work."
A clicking sound was then heard, and the group saw that Bluestone had shut the door to the break room behind him.
"So you're a mercenary team—something very bad must have occurred then if you're military is stretched as thin as you say." Stated Bluestone.
Bill replied, "I'm not saying anything until you answer some questions."
Bluestone looked at Bill and said, "O.K. I'll start from the beginning.
"At the end of the 21st century, humanity, our race, had descended into a third global war. Pollution had gotten to such a point that the ocean levels rose. Many of the rich costal countries erected large costal walls to hold back the torrent. The poorer countries were completely inialiated. The refugees from these countries plus the more inland impoverished nations were angered at what they felt was the world's ruling elite this started the war.
History from the time is very sketchy but what we do know is that both sides made large scale use of biological warfare. Genetically modified smart bugs designed to become inert after initial dispersion wiped out most of the world's population. When it ended only 5 billion of the 25 billion beings on our planet were left. Soon after the world's remaining governments merged to form the Earth Federation.
As the environmental clean up and massive shift towards cleaner energy sources began, the Federation in order to prevent over population began construction of space colonies called Sides.
Each Side was a cluster of fifty colonies, each individual colony capable of holding 5 million beings. The newer colonies constructed later could hold double that number.
Fifty one years after the mass clean up and colonization began – or as it is known on our calendar UC-0051—the Federation halted development of new colonies.
The population had managed to recover to about 11 billion. At least 9 billion inhabited space. However, history repeats itself as the remaining 2 billion stayed on Earth, stating they wanted to preserve Earth's biologic heritage. Since prices for goods were only half as much as on the colonies, many began to feel that the ruling elite planned for the poor and unwanted to be sent to the colonies, so they could enjoy their own personal Eden on Earth.
On one disgruntled colony, Zeon Daikun managed to take control of the Side 3 colony cluster and form the Republic of Zeon. The ruling Elite of Earth saw this as a threat and began a massive rearmament program around UC-0060. Because Daikun believed in peaceful negotiations, many saw him as a weak leader. In 0068 he was assassinated by the Zabi Family which then reformed the Colonies into the Principality of Zeon becoming a monarchy state
My parents, who were Earth politicians at the time, began working nonstop with negotiations on trade, price reduction of goods, and reduction of military forces in order to prevent what they knew would be an upcoming war.
However, one man Jamitov Hymem a rival politician had my parents killed. Angered at my own government I fled to Zeon and joined the military rising to Lieutenant prior to the beginning of the war."
Bluestone went on explaining the one year war, Operation Stardust—The Rise of the Secret Police Force the Titians. "Axis returned to Earth while he and his group stayed behind working on the recolonization project. Axis' defeat due to internal conflict and finally him and his forces going into suspended animation and leaving the solar system altogether.
Silence engulfed the room after Bluestone finished.
Finally, Falco blurted out, "You guys are the most F'd up people I've every seen. I'm surprised you didn't go out and completely exterminate each other."
Katt knocked Falco on the head saying, "You idiot do you want us to get shot?"
Fox though to himself: These people are no better than Andross .
Krystal interrupted Katt and Falco arguing and said, "It's sad that your kind turned against each other. I can see why you would wish to flee. Also, everyone seemed to stare at us—is there a reason?"
Bluestone nodded and got up and grabbed a small book off the shelf. He opened it to a certain page and placed it on the table saying, "Take a look at this."
Krystal took a look at the book and quickly slid it over to Fox. Fox looked and saw what appeared to be him but on four legs. The book read: Red Fox. Family: Canidae. Species Order: Carnivor. Wide spread throughout North American and European Regions.
Bluestone said, "Your kind seems to bear a striking resemblance to the wild life where we come from. So we decided to do a comprehensive DNA analysis. That's why your friend William Grey is wearing that patch. We took skin, hair, blood, muscle and bone tissue samples. We made sure to close the wounds and to secure the massive bandage so there would be proper healing. In addition, we tripled the normal prisoner food rations to speed up the healing as much as possible."
Bill looked at the patch again, then the open book, then replied, "I see, and what about the rest of my crew?"
Bluestone said, "Still on your ship, confined under guard to their residential areas. Besides you we only took samples from six others. They are on the ship as well. The reason you were brought here directly is because you seem to be of the highest rank."
Fox who was still a tad disturbed over what he had just heard from Bluestone said, "Anything else—like what exactly are you going to do with our military ship?"
Bluestone replied, "We are currently copying all the computer data we can access to our main frame for further study. After that's done you are all free to go. Provided, of course, that you bring a message to your government on our behalf. We would like to colonize the small planet that's nearby. Even though our technology is primitive by your standards, I'm sure at the very least we could establish some sort of trade."
Bill just nodded and said, "I see. I'll have to think about it first."
Bluestone stated, "I realize that this is a delicate matter, however, I'm willing to use other means to make contact. I could have my technicians completely dissect your ship to figure out your communications system. Several of my techs have been dying to see how every last thing on your ship operates. They might likely accidentally of course destroy something essential like your life support."
At the exact same moment, Bill and Bluestone both drew their weapons directly pointing at each other and Fox and his group had also pulled their weapons in response. After a minute of standing there, Bluestone ejected the clip from is gun and laughed saying, "This is pretty much pointless. Even if you were to manage to fight your way back to your ship, we still have just enough fire power to prevent your ships from leaving the vicinity. As I said earlier, we mean no hostilities, if it will make you feel more secure I'm willing to let you contact your officials directly. The minovsky particle field is still down so I'm sure you can make contact with your nearest facility."
Bill ejected the battery from his blaster and said, "Two conditions: 1. I want my crew to be released from confinement from the residential areas of the ship. 2. I want as much data as you can provide seeing as you're taking some from my ship. Also after I'm done with communications, I want myself, my ship's intelligence officer, and Fox and his team to be shown this entire place from top to bottom."
Bluestone nodded and said, "That will be agreeable. I'll be back in one hour, I have to brief security. In the meantime, you're welcome to do whatever you want in this room. If you need something, just ask one of the guards posted outside."
Bluestone left and Fox said, "This is screwed up."
Falco said, "I hear you, I'm going to need a good long stiff drink when this crap is over."
Bill said to Falco, "I think I'll come with you."
Ken who had mostly been quiet nodded and said, "I'm kind of interested in the tour myself. I'd like to get a closer look at one of their mobile suits. Especially if they have one from the One Year War."
Everyone stared at Ken and he said, "What? I'm just interested in how they worked mechanically especially since they're probably so primitive. I might be able to learn a few things. For example, how did they work in those particle fields."
Katt said, "I don't like this, however, now that Ken mentions it, I'm somewhat interested myself. Maybe we can find a way to rig the Arwings to actually work in such an environment. Other than that, I could use a drink too as long as bird brain is buying."
Falco laughed and said, "I bet you couldn't hold anything like that down."
Katt said, "If that's a bet as soon as we get back—contest, whoever drinks the most without passing out wins loser buys."
As Falco and Katt started arguing, yet again, Bill said, "Kind of like the good old days, Huh Fox?"
Fox just nodded and said, "Yeah, kind of makes you think we never left the academy."
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Next: Communications and Tour
Rave Drifter
