Building the Future

Chapter 02: A Culture Develops

***Disclaimer***

The Star Wars and Harry Potter franchise(s) belong to their respective owners. This is a work of pure parody, and appreciation from a mere fan. No profit is sought or accepted from the use of these trademarked properties, and the following is written under any/all terms of fair use as may exist covering creative use.

Summary: Another addition to my ficlet file, this story follows along with my version of Master of Death (MoD) Harry ending up in the Star Wars Universe after years of life and mastering the magic of Earth, Harry, after decades of covert study of the Veil of Death, speculates that it is a partially formed portal he will be able to utilize, with the assistance of a specially constructed runic bio-suit, to cross the divide to discover the final destination of the veil. After viewing the decline and near death of the Wizarding World, and agonizing over the potential death of magic on Earth, Harry, with the assistance of the Potter and Black fortunes, has amassed a truly genetically diverse magical and muggle menagerie, seed vault, and resources to depart Earth with the hopes of ensuring the continuation of magic, wherever he ends up.

There may be a partial crossover with Star Trek in this fic, but if so it will be minor, and only relative to technology and ship design vs. character(s) with regard to the main crossover (HPxSW).

Parings: None at Present.

Time Frame: Initially Set 38,000 BBY

Location(s) Relevant to this Chapter: Ha'Randa/Terra Nova, Unknown Region, Outer-Rim (D-9, Rimward).

oo0oo 0o0o0


Anno Autem Rex Noster 001; T + 6 Months Arrival

***New London; Terran Capitol***

"Where is the embassy going," Admiral Hughes asked as she made her way from one briefing room to the next in the company of the Terran Prime Minister, a muggle, Jennifer Penrose.

"Reports are that teams have begun clearing, prepping, and discretely warding an area roughly 12 km square to serve as a diplomatic outpost, trade center, and cultural exchange on the southernmost region of their continent. While they seem friendly, we barely know them and I'm not yet willing to involve them in our technology or that which we've brought."

"Very wise Madam Prime Minister," Admiral Hughes replied. "If I may suggest," she began as she and the PM were ushered into various rooms and through various places by aides and signing off on reports along the way, "that a portion of the cultural center be reserved for a College."

The PM stopped in the hallway, confusing her security personnel and the ensigns assigned to assist the two senior officials as they traveled. "Bethany you and I were friends long before any of this, and that's the last proposition I'd have imagined coming from you," the PM began. "What good would a college be to these people?"

"It seems simple to me Prime Minister; we know nothing of these people, they know nothing of us. What better way to learn something that by sharing our histories than in a formal setting. If nothing else it's mutually beneficial and a neutral environment to learn the culture of the other."

The two looked at each other for a few moments before the PM turned and resumed walking.

"That," the PM began slowly as they were nearing their destination, "is a very good observation Beth, one which I'm surprised the Foreign Secretary didn't come up with. I'll pitch the idea to Marcus today and ask him to sketch out an initial proposal for the project when Cabinet next meets."

They exited the City Admin building and began to approach one of the public streetcars that was serving as mass transport for the citizens of New London, but which had been reserved for daily use by the PM and her entourage.

"On another note," Beth began, "the Admiralty has issued a few more directives and General Orders that will need to be widely distributed among your ranks concerning the operation capacity of the Crucible."

"Are we finally ready to begin civilian construction," the PM asked as an aid handed her a different datapad with the information the Admiral had been sent to brief her on.

"No," Beth replied, "but instead of the initial 12 month delay which was reported last week, estimates now say the delay is down to 8 months. Along with this re-structuring of the timetable for Civilian inclusion in the Crucible Production Capacity, I've been instructed to inform you that you've been given a seat on the Overwatch Council, as PM, and that the first lightyear around this system has been cleared for expansion and exploration by stellar cartography."

Jennifer mulled over what she'd been told for a few moments before replying.

"The Grand Admiral has cleared us to expand Terra Nova's holding and colonization efforts," the PM asked.

"The tentative treaty established with the Randathans is for a pact of non-agression, mutual cohabitation of the planet, and standard diplomatic rights as StarFleet normally sought when making first contact with a post-warp capable species. Part of the diplomatic exchange, apart from cultural histories and such, was a star chart from our neighbors who were kind enough to provide us with all their most recent knowledge as to the location of their less civilized cousins and for the mutual defense of the planet."

"What about the Crucible," the PM began. "Reports from the Foreign Minister has been that the Randathans were most interested in discussing the station, and even attempting to visit upon its completion."

"They were very understanding of the Grand Admiral's position on it being a vital asset, and provided multiple assurances it was not a present threat to the Randathan people, and that the ships generated would be for the mutual defense of both our peoples, but that it's operational capabilities and design specs were classified, and not open for public inspection at this time," Admiral Hughes replied.

"Admiral," an ensign began as she held a communications headpiece to his ear, "transmission coming in over secure coms, Confirmed from Grand Admiral Potter Sir; we are to proceed with the Prime Minister and all due haste to transport aboard the SS Liberty and proceed to the Crucible for an emergency briefing."

"Has the Deputy Prime Minister been notified," PM Penrose asked. "What of the admiralty? I don't like the idea of too many command officers and officials being in the same place off planet."

"I've just gotten written notification Prime Minister," Bethany began looking to her own pad, "and it's the Overwatch Council summoned by the Grand Admiral. This Meeting is on the public books and will likely be classified only for the short term, so we're likely only going to be gone for an hour or two at most on one of the most secure structures in this system. I think we'll be ok without having to enact the Survivor Protocols."

"As you say Admiral," the PM replied before activating her com badge and requesting transport to the SS Liberty."

She and her entourage were shortly beamed up before the Admiral looked to her ensign/aid before doing the same and beaming back to her ship.

*** Same day; Space Station: Crucible 01***

The sphere was nearly enveloped by a cloud of worker bee drones as the final stages of construction were completed. At over 75 percent completed the majority of both exterior and interior frame work, and support systems were completed leaving the final quarter projected to be completed within the next two months. The military production facilities currently available were steadily pushing the max of their capabilities on producing craft and support vehicles for the approved fleet plans by the Admiralty Council.

The SS Liberty was currently cloaked and had received instructions to engage the phase shift to park in a particular hanger bay on the southernmost secured bay in the station.

"Status Captain," Admiral Hughes ordered as she entered the Bridge from her ready room, followed closely by the Prime Minister and her attendants.

"We're on final approach and minimizing impulse engines and maneuvering to the appropriate vector before engaging the phase cloak and entering the station. As we've not phased through Mithril before, or a structure the size of the station, I've ordered Yellow Alert and all personnel to ready stations," Captain Yates, a middle aged muggle who took to the StarFleet training offered by the Repository like a fish to water.

"Very good Captain," Admiral Hughes replied. "Take us in."

"Aye-Aye Sir," the Captian replied as he began barking orders to his bridge crew.

"Mr. Thompson, please keep a close eye on the readings from the Warp Field and Core as we enter the station. I want a report analyzing the sensor readings and recommendation by your Senior Engineers as to the feasibility of the long term use of this method of entering and exiting Mithril based stations."

"Aye Captain," came the reply.

"Final approach Captain," came the voice of the Helmsman.

"Admiral, would you care to take the chair," the Captain offered his Senior officer the command chair.

"Negative Captain, you've earned the right to sit in that chair unless I order otherwise," came the brief reply.

"Aye Sir," he replied as he sat down and pulled up the screen and information fed to him by the various stations on the bridge.

"Phase Shift is active, all readings normal; T minus 30 seconds to impact with the coordinates given," the helmsman informed the Captain.

Captain Yates opened a com to the entire ship, "all hands, phase cloak is active and shields have dropped, please ensure all systems are operational, and run continual diagnostics of your systems as we pass the initial threshold of the Station until the Phase and cloak are disengaged. Yates out."

"What does he mean," the PM asked Admiral Hughes.

"While the technology has been perfected after years of study and trials by the Grand Admiral prior to our arrival in this reality, the device was only tested to scale on a functional model of a shuttlecraft made of Mitrhil and a solid cube of Mithril. While nothing should happen, this presents the first opportunity that a command ship, with advanced sensors over those of a shuttle, will have in monitoring things and generating raw data to be later studied to further refine the tech that lets us phase shift; not to mention we'll have the chance to verify whether at some point we want the entire fleet or just certain ships to have such capabilities," Admiral Hughes replied.

The ship passed the threshold of the Crucible, with no noticeable difficulty, and shortly traveled the few kilometers inward to the main hanger bay they'd been assigned.

"Station Master Reports docking complete Captain," the helmsman informed the captain.

"Good Mr. Smith; please transfer systems to Station power, and inform all sections to begin routine maintenance procedures. Commander Pike, you're in charge until we return," the Captain informed his First Officer as he indicated the Admiral, PM, and himself.

"Aye Sir; I'm sure we'll have her primed and waiting for you upon your return," came the reply.

"Madam Prime Minister, Admiral, I've secured Transporter Room 3, as the closest, for our use," Captain Yates said as he led the group to transport.

"Sir, Grand Admiral Potter's been informed of our arrival, and Station Master relays that upon the transport of the Admiral, Captain, and Prime Minister, we are to exit the station for a Standard Orbit," the Helmsman informed the First Officer.

Commander Pike took a few minutes to review the actual order's that had been issued to them and relayed by the Station Master and seeing that all proper authorization phrased matched, he began the process of undoing what the Captain had ordered prior to his departure and implementing the Orders of the Grand Admiral.


***Conference Room 2204, overlooking production Hanger SS4X***

The Prime Minister, Admiral Hughes, Captain Yates, and others were assembled in the conference room overlooking the construction of a mammoth sized ship if the shell laid out was anything to go by.

Grand Admiral Potter entered the room suddenly and everyone rose to their feet.

"Please be seated and examine the datapads in front of you," Harry began as the room darkened and display screen began cycling through sensor data, images, and blueprints contained on their individual pads. "First off, I'd like to thank you each for coming here; those of you which are part of Fleet Command have been summoned as you're part of the same battle group, or assigned to the Fleet currently under the authority of Admiral Hughes; Prime Minister Penrose, you've been invited as well considering you're going to have to handle the public relations of this development as well as lead the recruitment campaign."

"You're too kind Grand Admiral," the PM replied.

"Let me explain the project before you thank me Madam Prime Minister," Harry retorted.

Harry tapped a few buttons on the table and the images stopped rotating and began showing the star maps given by the Randathans.

"As you can see, Terra Nova is in this general area of space which for some reason the Randathans have designated as 'Galactic Grid D-9, Trailing Rimward.'" The majority of the map showed only star clusters and didn't provide any enhanced details for their examination. "We are here specifically to discuss the Rakattans and the so called 'Infinite Empire' they manage, and the danger they pose to us."

Harry pressed another button and an image of the Randathan Viceroy appeared on screen.

"This," he began, "is a Randathan; specifically, this is Viceroy Sa'Wahlara. He is typical of the appearance of the Randathan people which we share Terra Nova with. We still have no accurate assessment of their technological capabilities, nor of their long term temperament, but what we do know of them is that like the Vulcans from Home, they have a warlike cousin in the Rakattan."

The other half of the screen began showing an identical creature with golden eyes vs. the brown of the Randathan.

"This is a Rakattan," Harry started. "The main difference in determining Randathan to a Rakattan, on the surface, is the color of the being's eyes for which I'm assured, 'the golden color of the Rakattan is surely the presence of the corruption brought on by the Dark Side of the Force,' and I've yet to determine what the Hell the Viceroy meant by that."

Harry took a sip of water after sitting his pad down and walked to the window overlooking the production bay.

"Mage Corps are moving on to other special areas of this station to extend Permanent Expansion charms to them similar to the one on this hanger, as upon review of the information shared with me 4 months ago by the Randathans we are not prepared for the threat the Rakattan provide us at this time. This ship," Harry pointed to the shell being constructed that stretched almost past the naked eye, "is going to serve as both a defensive and offensive countermeasure to the Rakattan influence, as they're in our neighborhood ladies and gentlemen."

There was murmuring among those assembled at this revelation.

"According to the Viceroy, his people split from the Rakattan some 10 generations, which we estimate to be just shy of 500 years, ago as the 'Force' study of their people began to turn toward a more sadistic and malevolent nature vs. the balanced approach the Randathans practice. According to estimates, this Galaxy is 100,000 light years across and each sector of space covers approximately 4.3 square light years. We are apparently in what is considered Galactic West."

Harry pulled up the location of Terra Nova and the location of Rakatta Prime.

"There are approximately 21.5 lightyears separating Terra Nova and the Rakattan Home world. That's less than a month and a half travel at Warp Factor 5. Our only saving grace at the moment is that Randathans do not seem to have the same type of Faster than Light Drive as our people developed, and I've been assured that theirs is some of the most advanced in the galaxy. I've also cleared the way for a joint defense exercise involving the Liberty, to engage in limited war-games with the Randathans and the 3rd Fleet. They wish to test our capabilities as much as we wish to test theirs before either side commit to depending on the other for Sector Defense."

Harry slid Admiral Hughes a pad detailing the war game parameters and her specific orders.

"I want active sensor sweeps, and for you to not use the cloak or phase shift, and limit yourself to Photon Torpedo's and Phasors during this exercise," Harry said.

"Aye Sir," Admiral Hughes replied. "I'm assuming that the munitions platform is still having a bit of difficulty in producing a quality assured quantity of quantum torpedoes?"

"No," Harry replied. "I mostly want you to limit your fleet to basic protections as I don't want to show our hand at the higher end technologies we can manufacture. According to the Viceroy, the ships they will be using are decommissioned and piloted by 'droid' so your use of live weapons was specifically requested. We can accurately project damage assessments for our higher form of weapons based on the scales already available to us."

Harry once again tapped the table and another image showed before cycling through several.

"I took my personal stealth shuttle and after a few days reconnaissance discovered their fleets," Harry began as the pictures shifted to show massive capitol ships, and stationary wings of fighter craft.

The oddly circular craft were affixed with double 'wings' which apparently served as armor coverings for some form of energy cannons; the fighter craft were self explanatory.

"There are over 1,500 ships of Class III or higher, by our classification scale, within 4 light years of Terra Nova. Detailed scans of the Hull show some variant on steel has been used, but tests show it is closer in properties to a Carbon Fiber Reinforced Titanium by elemental configuration than anything remotely resembling our Mithril; I've no doubt our smallest of shuttles could withstand hundreds of times more firepower than on of these capitol ships; but as of now their firepower is unknown, their strengths and weaknesses are unknown, and their maneuverability are unknown."

The screen returned to showing the Randathan and Rakattan pictures.

"I've cleared the Star Fighters in the 3rd Fleet to come in for a weapons system modification to be retrofit with older-style Phaser Pulse Cannons, and Proton Missals before the Liberty will be cleared to engage with modern phasers or photon torpedoes. I've also scoured the archives and modified a Class II Tactical Nuke to be tested in it's effectiveness on the surface of their capitol ships or the EMP Effects they generate."

Harry looked directly at Admiral Hughes as he gave his next orders.

"I want you to test these both on the surface of the craft and any hull breach you generate. Am I clear Admiral," Harry asked to the silent room.

"Crystal Grand Admiral," came the reply.

"Wonderful," Harry continued. "The next item I wish to address is the Leviathan, which you are currently observing outside this conference room as she is constructed."

After pressing a button the chairs around the table all withdrew, with their occupants still inside, and the table sank into the floor as the door sealed and the entire conference room seemingly detached from the Crucible superstructure and began giving an in person and close view of the Leviathan along a pre-programmed flight path.

"While the inspiration for the overall project was the Miranda Class circa the Klingon Wars, the design has been modified from the classic saucer section enclosed by the nacelles, to a massive Triangular Main Body inspired by the USS Inspiration. The primary difference between this main hull and say an Inspiration hull is that it's mirrored from the top to the bottom to completely cover and enclose two life-boars which can jettison carrying the entire crew from the interior of the ship through the aft section."

"What's the weapons compliment Grand Admiral," Captain Yates asked.

"The Weapons Systems are one of the first going in after the primary hulls have been laid Captain," Harry replied as they continued their slow observational tour. "As it stands now, the overall length of the ship is just shy of 3 km, and just shy of 270 meters tall; we've given her 50 decks, plus ample cargo and utility space," Harry replied. "However, I want to point out that unlike the StarFleet vessels this may be modeled on, or the memory engrams you studied under, this vessel is being designed, built, and purposed solely for Offensive and Defensive Capabilities; not scientific or diplomatic exploration."

"Grand Admiral," the Prime Minister began, "how do you propose to staff a vessel of this size…let alone an entire fleet of vessels of similar scale. We've got less than 5 million people here. Something like this would need thousands to monitor and maintain."

"Not to mention specialized training for half the weapons systems I see in the schematics," Admiral Hughes chimed in. "What exactly is a 'Laser Cannon,' a 'Mark IV Railgun,' or 'Chroniton Torpedo'?"

Harry conjured a chair to sit down and join the other members before he answered.

"I've had hundreds of years of study, experimentation, and tinkering melding both muggle and magical means in an attempt to build the groundwork for the advancements that would one day help secure our people's future. I've become one of the foremost experts in several fields I'd never imagined possible as a child such as Warp Field Theory, Medicine of all things, and several arcane or underutilized fields of magic."

"In answer to your questions Admiral Hughes, the Laser Pulse Cannons developed for the Leviathan superconductive energy based pulse weapons capable of creating superheated plasma that will discharge from their containment field/instrument at roughly .0003 the speed of light. The main advantage over phasers is that it's not purely an energy based weapon, it carries a physical payload of super-heated and condensed plasma that will not dissipate until it's traveled .5 lightyears. For close range combat of less than .5 lightyears these guns should pack quite a punch, and with the sheer number of them, massively weaken any enemy shields before punching relatively clean holes into the superstructure of a starship. There are at least 40 Batteries of this type weapon per km of the ship's main hull,with all weapons systems mirrored."

Harry conjured a glass of water and drank from it before he continued.

"The Mark IV Railgun is a solid projectile gun/cannon that takes a projectile, which can either have explosives pre-packaged or be solid and produced by the Replicators on-board, which when the solid track is lined with the target can shoot said projectile at .25 the speed of light. There are two forward facing, and six others equally spaced on the reaming hull section, again the same mirrored on the lower hull."

Harry brought up the schematics as he was discussing them on the viewer behind him.

"Finally, there Chroniton Torpedoes. These little babies have been extensively tested in my personal lab prior to our ever leaving Earth. These things have transphasic principles based on their being out of sync with normal spacetime once they are launched. There's no shield design, apart from our own, which can block a weapon out of sync with time. All ship models I've designed for use in this reality have such shielding in place and the capability of tracking such objects and detecting them up to 10 lightyears away. Which brings us, coincidentally, to your question Prime Minister."

The display changed to show both a rotating strand of DNA and some type of device called the "Genesis Chamber."

"Prior to Hermione's departure with the Avalon Contingency one of the last; no, that's wrong." Harry said as he corrected himself. "One of the most important projects she worked on was an artificial womb to allow for the birth of children without the need of a woman to become biologically pregnant."

Stunned looks greeted this pronouncement.

"Prior to everyone going into stasis, 50 individuals volunteered genetic material for the long-term testing of these devices. There were precisely 25 muggles and 25 magicals, in an even mix of gender and racial make-up who provided these samples."

Harry brought up the project details on his pad and sent them to the other pads in the room.

"What you've got on your pad now is the results of the experiment, which I traced for over 300 years. The children of these volunteers were raised by me, and given the choice of either joining their extended families in stasis, which some chose, or donating further genetic material before venturing forth into the muggle world; the results have proven conclusively that even after multiple generations, and without an infusion of fresh DNA to the equation, the artificial womb presents no health risks to the children, or to the integrity of the DNA."

"How is this any different than what that Singh fellow was doing," Captain Yates asked with several nods of agreement following his question.

"Unlike the Augments," Harry began, "I simply allowed nature to take its course. There was no alteration made to the DNA to attempt to produce purely magical children or to enhance them as Singh attempted. There was no indication that there would be any type of drawback to this being used on a wide scale."

"But still," the Prime Minister interjected, "with our population size we'd need millions more people just to ensure genetic diversity. I don't see how that can happen."

"There are two options immediately presentable to us," Harry began. "Prior to most of the 60 million plus muggles disappearing from Britain prior to WWIII breaking out, we were able to secure genetic samples from roughly 30 million people, who were either UK Nationals or from Continental Europe; I was hoping you would be able to immediately secure the passage of legislation encouraging the adoption of these as yet to be born children, and ensuring that families which are willing to adopt two or more receive incremental support and benefits from the government for the next 20 or so years."

"Isn't that a bit dangerous though," Admiral Hughes spoke up. "Could we ethically breed human cattle for use by the Fleet?"

"I don't particularly care for the ethical arguments against this," Harry replied. "I do care that the children are treated as they are: children, and given the freedom of choice we all want for our children. That being said, we're in an entirely new galaxy with technologically advanced neighbors who outnumber us by a shocking margin. I'm not going to allow the creation of Clone Serfs Admiral; I'm talking about letting people have a family, and using the Fleet as a means to support these families and our mutual defense. These children will be citizens of New Terra and will have all rights otherwise given to children born to our culture."

Harry looked around at all present and gave a hard look before continuing.

"I've left a similar program in place on Magus Prime which will allow for the Magical and Muggle Populations to not only continue to survive, but grow and hopefully one day thrive. I didn't bring this program up lightly ladies and gentlemen, nor is it a scheme developed to solve our immediate problem. Operation Genesis was the backbone of our move to this reality, and has been in effect from day one of your stasis. Due to the time-dilation we discovered on the arch the portal is only going to activate once every 150-300 years so our cousins can send us a data-burst on Federation and Milky-Way Advancements, and cultural updates. I want this colony, this culture, to survive long enough to see the benefit of that incoming data, and have something to send back as well."

Harry stood up and walked to the window to look down at the Leviathan, which would become the last hope of defending Terra Nova in the event conventional ships of the Fleet failed to repel enemy invaders.

"Magic must survive," he nearly whispered as he gazed upon the thousands of constructor bees laying the mithril and joining the plates.

Silenced reigned for a few more moments before the pod tilted to show the developing quad nacelle design for the ship.

"Will she still have phaser arrays, and photon torpedo tubes as well Grand Admiral," Admiral Hughes asked to break the growing tension.

"More than any sane person would ever consider given the power requirements; the ship will have a 6 chamber warp-core, and so many redundant systems I can scarcely comprehend it all," he replied as he ambled back to the table which had risen from the ground. "However, unlike the Miranda Class, there will be multiple weapons systems and sensor arrays on the bridge between the nacelles which will give each weapon 360 degrees of rotation horizontal and up to 180 vertical, vs. the 90 degrees, either, the original model could."

"I hate to touch a live wire," the PM began, "but what do you realistically need for the adoption program to get underway? Is this something we're just going to do without informing the public, or do they get to vote in Parliament? What timeline did you expect?"

"Jennifer," Harry began, "I honestly don't care how it happens, I just want a legal framework in place so that these children, once placed with a family, are legally members of that family, entitled to all rights and privileges afforded to the natural offspring of a family. We need the program instituted 4 months ago when we discovered the Randathans, but I've had too many immediate concerns to begin considering the effects this policy may have if the Randathans get wind of our sudden population boom. I've already ordered the creation of 1 million artificial wombs with Serenity, and she's overseeing the construction of new line of dedicated Mark III's to provide neonatal and post-delivery care for these children up to their second year. While I would like nothing more than to have 20 million of these children born immediately, we're not ready for that as a society. I think 5 runs of 1 million, staggered, over the next 5 years will be the appropriate timeline," Harry finished.

"What if people don't want to adopt these children," the PM pressed.

"Then they are to be given a family name, based on the genetic material provided for their birth, a complete family history work-up, and they will be raised by the state in specialized academies to train these children until they reach majority, and to provide them with a safe space to live and grow." Harry rubbed his eyes and sat back in his chair after responding. "We're not going to abandon these children," he continued. "We're going to ensure that they are given every opportunity to interact with the regular population, with civilians and military as well in a kind and nurturing environment that is controlled by the Civilian Government Madam Prime Minister. These children will have childhoods, but will want for nothing, and if you have to hire staff to shower them with parental affection and guidance, then do that but I would hope most people would see reason and adopt them."

"But really Grand Admiral," Admiral Hughes began, "should we really produce the children first and then seek parents, or wouldn't it be wise to ask for volunteers prior to birthing a child?"

"With all due respect to your question Bethany, we simply don't have the luxury of time for people to become accustomed to this idea," Harry replied. "The Rakattan are not just culturally offensive, in the same sense as the Dominion may be; they are evil. They glory in death, destruction, mayhem, torture, and the enslavement of entire star systems and the genocide of entire worlds. They hopelessly outnumber us Admiral. We can't afford to wait and see or we'll be gone and dust before we can mount a proper defense."

As the conference room re-docked with the superstructure of the Crucible, Captain Yates spoke up.

"I'm not normally one to directly contradict my commanding officer in any setting," he began, "but if I may respectfully interject Admiral Hughes, while the plan is somewhat bitter to accept the Grand Admiral makes a highly valid point tactically, and Madam Prime Minister with all due respect, I don't see this as a hard sell to the public. This isn't Earth, these people aren't the average human that is easily mystified by the media or flashy headlines. These people are survivors who like all of us, believed in the Grand Admiral and his warnings and we traveled the veil of death willingly to follow him. It's not enough to simply continue on under our previous cultural norms, we have to evolve, we have to change….we have to march on."

"I understand that Captain," the Prime Minister replied somewhat tiredly, "but this is an exceptionally foreign concept for me to bear and I know I'm no more special than the average person on Terra Nova. Respectfully Grand Admiral, we've not all had 400 years to collectively consider the implications of these, and your other, programs or plans. This will take time and immediately beginning it will not go over well if we don't consult with Parliament."

"We have," Harry began, "maybe three years, at most, if I slow down construction on the Leviathan. This craft would normally take 24 months to build, and this is the only production bay which is currently capable of having the automated systems and androids capable of making this ship. With time, and producing more, the speed at which one can be produced should hopefully drop down to one every 18 months. Most of the ship systems will be automated and controllable from the bridge, so no there won't be a need for thousands of personnel to man them, but it may take between 200-300 highly skilled individuals plus pilots for the attack shuttle wings. Depending on how tests go with your war game Admiral Hughes, this ship and its overpowered systems could be the only hope Terra Nova has of repelling an invading fleet of Rakattan, so I'd rather we not delay it and get a move on Madam Prime Minister."

Harry made eye contact with each individual before continuing.

"I'm not willing to delay the Leviathan more than 3 years, and that if there's a great uproar of the people that will require my attention and lobbying to convince of the necessity of the Genesis Program. I'm setting a firm deadline, which will be a compromise, Prime Minister. In 18 months in 3 months I will order the seeding of 700,000 embryos into the Artificial Wombs when they hit the second trimester, the remaining 300,000 will be seeded, and I will produce these children at that pace until we have added 20 million to our population. THEN, if normal conceptions haven't been happening at an acceptable rate to maintain the diversity of the gene pool, I will begin conscripting genetic material from the civilians and assign them a certain number of their own offspring plus a number from among the initial 20 million; we don't have the luxury of waiting for people to have their own children."

"Then when will we have that luxury," the Prime Minister sarcastically asked.

"When we have a numerical advantage over both the Randathan and Rakattan I expect," Admiral Hughes replied, to which Harry nodded in agreement. "Madam Prime Minister, Jennifer, while I don't like this program, no one in the admiralty will be against it. It's going to happen whether we accept that or not, and if we're being honest, it's the right thing to do for our people."

"But at what cost Beth? Human history is rife with examples of the different being exploited; my ancestors were African Slaves, who were forced to work in the Americas before we were able to emigrate to England during the American Revolution. I know what could happen to these children if the general population treats them differently."

"That's why I went over the program in the detail I did Jennifer," Harry replied. "You've got the information and the proof that these kids will be 100 normal just without birth mom. They'll still have parents that they'll have a genetic profile on, and they're still as human as you and I. Some will likely even be magical, but 30 percent of our population is 40 or older. 50 percent are between the ages of 20 and 39. The great majority of our 5 million or so people are Muggle; they simply won't make it to 90, or even 125 like wizards can, and still have children. I refuse to dose the population with fertility potions and lust elixirs and deprive them of their free will. This is the only alternative to the looming dilemma which maintains everyone's freedom of choice and free will."

As the door unsealed as he last docking clamps reengaged, Harry looked to the PM.

"What will it be Jennifer; do we survive or do we perish," Harry asked.

"That's hardly a fair choice Grand Admiral," she replied.

"I know," he said with a derisive chuckle, "but it's the choice we've been given.


Anno Autem Rex Noster 001; T + 6 Months Arrival

***Paranda Province, Temple of Peace, Water Gardens***

"I don't like this," Ka'lonra said to his personal assistant droid as he paced the temple gardens. "These Terrans; they're too unknown and their technology too … different. There's no touch of the Force upon any of it, yet they travel space as easily as we do."

"Sir, perhaps you should conference with your Deputies and the Admiralty about the war games," came the distorted and oddly feminine voice of the droid's vocalizer unit.

"Bah, what do they know," he replied. "They've all sided with the Viceroy and his 'wait and see approach.' There's no time to delay, these people are a threat." He said with conviction. "I believe they're a threat he continued; I want to believe they're a threat," he replied before slumping down onto a bench in the shade of a fruit tree. "The Force normally provides me such clarity B-7, but my visions concerning these people are cloudy, at best. I take this to mean they can hide themselves from us in the force like our Rakattan cousins and that terrifies me; what if these genetically inferior creatures are somehow sent to infiltrate us from our dire enemy…they claim no knowledge of the Empire, yet their enslavement of this region of space is well established, and the truly span the galaxy now with several colony and slave world."

"Sir the admirals can assist you with this line of questioning," the droid replied as its base protocols mandated.

"The admirals want to send 100 ships our to test our strength against these Terrans. 100 SHIPS," he screamed," and the Viceroy has signed off on the number as acceptable losses. He's no concept on the lengths we have to go to in order to produce new ships and fleets without raising the suspicions or the notice of the Rakattan. We can't throw ships away just to assess the capabilities of our new….neighbors," he finished with a sneer as his eyes flashed green ever so slightly.

"Sir the admirals will provide more assistance on this matter than I can; or the Viceroy may be able to clarify the parameters of the war games. Should I engage a call on your behalf to schedule time with the Viceroy or Admirals," the droid asked.

"No," Ka'lonra replied as he rose and began walking determinately back to the Governmental Citadel. "Delete this conversation from your memory banks."

"Affirmative," came the reply.


-To Be Continued-

Reviews are welcome.

This in published without a Beta; if you find an error, feel free to PM me and I will try to correct it. Standard Disclaimers apply.

Read and Review to let me know what you think.

Chapter Date: 04/25/2017.

Author's Commentary: This feels like a natural place to stop this, as I want to cover the war-games independently and reflect on what I want to happen prior to.

To the reviewer's that complained about the casual slash, it's not going to get graphic, and grow up…gay people are real, they exist, and they live near you.

We're all in for an interesting ride to say the least if this is expanded upon.

If I don't reply to your review personally I do apologize. Thanks for sticking around. I hope you're recommending me to your friends.

Thanks for the read. #Review and #Recommend.