Disclaimer: Yeah, just realised I have forgotten to put one of these in.
Don't want to be sued, or stopped, so here it is- I do not lay any sort of
claim to Alpha Centari, or anything to do with it. No economic sanctions, I
mean, economic gain, has been made from this piece. It is just enjoyment.
Note: Well, here we are. I have done many, many chapters. Some of them rubbish, some of them (in my opinion) good. This is the bit where my story turns, away from the 'local' war with the Spartans, into more global issues, with Council interaction, political strife and intrigue, assassinations, riots, revolutions, and pure, unadulterated anarchy. It should be fun though. How will Deirdre, a peace-loving Democrat, as Santiago calls her, fend of trouble within her factions? How can she keep to her ideals as her faction crumbles around her? Can she trust anyone? What will happen to Gaia's Landing? Will Planet be destroyed? Well.have fun.
Second Note: Be prepared for a sequel. This story is just to prepare for the sequel, which is where my own ideas and science fiction come in. In the sequels, humans from Earth arrive in Alpha Centauri, and they expect the Council to give them equal authority. A story of the OLD vs. the NEW. Well, that'll not be for a long while, but I though I had better warn you, so you have chance to run away before I submit. Anyway, here is the actual chapter. Any suggestions for improvement, any possible ideas you have, and any subplots you want me to put in? Any home baked characters you want me to add? Like a University scientist you have had in one of your stories, or anything like that. This is a spectator story, to some extent, at least. (Any outrageous suggestions will not be considered) (I decide what is outrageous) (No, it is not a democracy) (Yes, I am Yang) (No, I'm not a hippy) (Yes I am against WAR) Oh! That leads me to my second- no, third point.
DO NOT ATTACK IRAQ! This is as much a story of human nature as it is of AC. I ask you to stop the war against Iraq, and to end the foolish boy attitude towards war. War is BAD BAD BAD, and it should not be allowed, unless there is solid, incontrovertible evidence of Saddam having chemical weapons, and probably not even then. If this loses me readers, then tough, but please, take a stance on this matter. Now, all this boring stuff out of the way, and into the story.sorry it took me so long. I do have 14 chapters of OOC comments to make up, don't I?
The streets of Gaia's Landing had erupted into chaos. Rioters flung themselves at security forces, screaming with terror. Somehow, news of the approaching Spartan army had reached them, and now nothing could contain them.
They trashed buildings and burned trees. It was as if some dark power had possessed the populace, driving them to commit terrible acts. Deirdre watched as small portions of her city burned. People were there, fighting the fires, so it would not cause much damage. However, it was the fact that people would actually burn the gardens and groves that made Deirdre pale with fright.
Abdim had made a mess of governing. He had taken away the freedom of the people, which Deirdre had stood down to preserve. Fermenting discord and anarchy had been all he was good for. It was up to Deirdre now to take action. She had two hours. Two hours in which to achieve the near-impossible. Abdim must be overthrown, his forces disarmed, unless they were ready to serve her. Then the walls must be manned, and then somehow, the Spartans must be driven away. Deirdre muttered under her breath, angry at how over-confident she had been. Of course the Spartans were not fools. They would launch an attack against Gaia's Landing, the second they heard of a change in government. Change always meant weakness, at least until the people were used to it.
Walking through the mass hysteria and rioting, Deirdre felt a strange sort of detachment. She could still sense the terrible anxiety, the worry that her city might fall under the Spartan menace. Diehl walked with her, he and thirty other guards forming a wall of muscle against the rioters.
The sound was unbelievable. It was as if the souls of every Gaian present were screaming through their throats. Abdim, in his foolishness, had obviously deemed the populace of little threat, for only three detachments of his warriors had been sent into the streets, and they had been swiftly, and utterly annihilated.
The crowds were shrieking the name of their leader, shouting for Deirdre. She felt her heart go heavy. They were not peaceful. Years of war had changed that. Years of fighting, of suffering under other leader's disregard for them had changed her people. Now, they were warlike. Their ideals, everything they had once held dear, were gone, evaporated like morning mist.
Deirdre hardened her heart. She could not cry. She must not cry! The war had done this, only the war! Once Santiago had been beaten, things could go back to how they were before.
A cynical burst of laughter escaped her lips. Who was she kidding? Everything back to how it was? What, was she somebody from Earth? A young girl believing adamantly that her views would be listened to? Was she that naïve? Could she really believe that her people, having had a taste of power, would give that up readily? Would they once again take their place in the mud, bowing down to greater factions?
No. Even Deirdre would not do that. Never, had been the promise in New Glasgow, never to bow, never to scrape, never to be humiliated, and never to be beaten! The pacifist's would become victorious, they had all said, but only now was Deirdre realising the true price of that statement. When was it that they would cease to be pacifists? Was it possible to be a pacifist anymore, when war was so easy, and so consuming?
All these questions floated around the head of Deirdre, sniping at her, worming away into the solid wall of bravado she had erected. Long ago, she had convinced herself that she must never show weakness. She would be a strong leader, a leader that her people could look up to and revere.
Yet they didn't. For all this show of loyalty, for all these people yelling her name, praising her, and cursing Abdim, she knew the truth. Had she been making the mistakes of Abdim, they would be cheering him. In fact, she had been so unpopular by being seen as the cause of the war, that it had taken a bungling hand such as that of Abdim on the reins to turn them back to her.
The riots grew more intense, and suddenly Diehl stared directing the men into a side alley. Deirdre raised an eyebrow, but he just shook his head. Now was not the time for discussions.
Deirdre moved with them, and soon they had moved out of the riots. It was disconcerting, to be plunged into cool darkness of an alley, and to hear the screaming as only a distant sound instead of the pounding maelstrom always around her head.
"Lady, since Abdim seized power, I have taken the liberty to prepare a strike force. Three hundred men are bunkered within the chambers underneath this alley. Within then minutes, we can be ready to strike at the man himself. If we move quickly enough, we can punch into the palace, and take him as he sits in your throne room. Without him, the guards will willingly serve you, and we can quickly move to turn against the Spartans."
Deirdre felt a sudden sheet of indecision rush through her. Could she order it? Could she allow her soldiers to remove an innocent man from power, the only crime being his ambition and stupidity? Watching her hesitate, Diehl sighed.
"It is him, or Gaia's Landing, my lady. You must choose. I know what you feel; you wish you had never gone to war. You have seen the way our people are acting, and you despise yourself. Nevertheless, we will pull through, we always have. We will weather this storm of violence, and wake again to a new spring, a new peace. This I can promise, and let Planet steal my life if I lie."
Deirdre nodded. "Very well. Let the attack commence. I will move in with you. I must be ready to take personal command immediately. I also need any spare forces to round up the members of the Senate. Hold them in custody. Say it is for their protection, or something. We cannot have them running around and muddying the waters. I must have an hour of absolute control before the Spartans get here, or this city is lost. I will atone for my actions after, but I now act for the salvation of Gaia."
Diehl looked at Deirdre. She knew that the tearing guilt, and rising indecision must be evident. She must look more the foolish girl than ever before. Breathing out, she waited. A door opened, and it took her a moment for her eyes to adjust to the darkness.
In ten minutes, they were moving through a vast network of dark tunnels, Deirdre behind thirty troops, but in front of three hundred. They were all alert, bearing weapons of the finest technology. Her last chance to save the city rested with these soldiers, and both they, and she, knew it.
They walked on and on, in almost absolute darkness. Deirdre closed her eyes, and prayed. She prayed to God, and Planet. She would need both to succeed, she felt.
Diehl stopped, and said. "This is it. The door. First Detachment, when you get through the door, takes out anything that moves. Second Detachment; secure the entrances to the palace. Third, stand ready in support. Fourth, you shall come with the Lady and I to the throne room."
A resounding chorus, whispers of affirmation, made Deirdre bow her head in shame. She felt torn. She was asking these men and women to give their lives to put her back in power.
No, a voice murmured in her head. They fight of their own accord, and they fight for Gaia. They fight for freedom, and they fight for peace. Fighting for peace is the only way to keep it. Deirdre shuddered, and then spoke quietly.
"Good luck. May Planet go with you, and guide you into her bosom."
Silence.
Diehl then shouted loudly. "Go! First Company, through the door, now!"
A flash of an explosion from outside illuminated the tunnel, and Deirdre frowned. She had not known there were windows in the tunnel. The way Diehl was reacting neither had he. As the First Detachment moved through, blasting into the palace halls, Deirdre felt a prickling sense of danger.
"Commander, where is the light coming fro-"
She paused, her mouth open. The way they had just come, patrols of Spartans had arrived. Deirdre had time enough to curse, before laser shots filled the tunnels. Diehl dragged her to the floor, in order to avoid the shots. Third Detachment moved to intercept the Spartans, and Diehl roared.
"Continue with the plan! Third can hold them off, we must take the throne room. Move! Move! Move!"
Seemingly unconcerned by the firing shots, the Gaian soldiers rushed into the palace. Deirdre followed them. Diehl pulled her with him, almost viciously. She gasped as a laser shot struck her on the shoulder. Diehl looked up. From overhanging balconies of the upper floor, Spartan warriors were shooting, laughing as they did so.
Diehl swore. "The bastards have taken the palace!"
Deirdre looked around, and when she saw Gaian fighting Gaian, even when Spartans were abroad, she paled with anger.
"I did not know his treachery went this far! Diehl. Pull all detachments back. If we take the throne room, we can at least summon aid from the other factions. Abdim must have made a deal with Santiago, the bastard!"
All around them, Gaians died, as the Spartans began to take the palace.
Twenty minutes later, Deirdre stood outside the throne room. It was quiet here, for they had broken through the lines, and had passed any resistance. Now seventy of her soldiers waited for her word to blast open the doors of the throne room, where they would find Abdim, in his treacherous power.
Diehl still stood with her, his eyes grim. The treachery had hit him harder than she. That not only Abdim, but Gaians as well considered siding with the enemy had left him dumbfounded.
With a gesture towards the door, Deirdre gave the order for the attack to begin. Her future, and that of her faction, was now in the balance. It was for her to decide.
When the doors blasted open, Deirdre was surprised at the amount of smoke. After it had cleared, her mouth dropped open. Santiago sat on her throne, smiling evilly.
Note: Sorry about how this chapter is short, and boring. I am exhausted, and have just got in from school, and so it is the worst time to have an inspiration kick. Nevertheless, here is the next chapter. Don't be TOO critical, please. I can't take it.
Note: Well, here we are. I have done many, many chapters. Some of them rubbish, some of them (in my opinion) good. This is the bit where my story turns, away from the 'local' war with the Spartans, into more global issues, with Council interaction, political strife and intrigue, assassinations, riots, revolutions, and pure, unadulterated anarchy. It should be fun though. How will Deirdre, a peace-loving Democrat, as Santiago calls her, fend of trouble within her factions? How can she keep to her ideals as her faction crumbles around her? Can she trust anyone? What will happen to Gaia's Landing? Will Planet be destroyed? Well.have fun.
Second Note: Be prepared for a sequel. This story is just to prepare for the sequel, which is where my own ideas and science fiction come in. In the sequels, humans from Earth arrive in Alpha Centauri, and they expect the Council to give them equal authority. A story of the OLD vs. the NEW. Well, that'll not be for a long while, but I though I had better warn you, so you have chance to run away before I submit. Anyway, here is the actual chapter. Any suggestions for improvement, any possible ideas you have, and any subplots you want me to put in? Any home baked characters you want me to add? Like a University scientist you have had in one of your stories, or anything like that. This is a spectator story, to some extent, at least. (Any outrageous suggestions will not be considered) (I decide what is outrageous) (No, it is not a democracy) (Yes, I am Yang) (No, I'm not a hippy) (Yes I am against WAR) Oh! That leads me to my second- no, third point.
DO NOT ATTACK IRAQ! This is as much a story of human nature as it is of AC. I ask you to stop the war against Iraq, and to end the foolish boy attitude towards war. War is BAD BAD BAD, and it should not be allowed, unless there is solid, incontrovertible evidence of Saddam having chemical weapons, and probably not even then. If this loses me readers, then tough, but please, take a stance on this matter. Now, all this boring stuff out of the way, and into the story.sorry it took me so long. I do have 14 chapters of OOC comments to make up, don't I?
The streets of Gaia's Landing had erupted into chaos. Rioters flung themselves at security forces, screaming with terror. Somehow, news of the approaching Spartan army had reached them, and now nothing could contain them.
They trashed buildings and burned trees. It was as if some dark power had possessed the populace, driving them to commit terrible acts. Deirdre watched as small portions of her city burned. People were there, fighting the fires, so it would not cause much damage. However, it was the fact that people would actually burn the gardens and groves that made Deirdre pale with fright.
Abdim had made a mess of governing. He had taken away the freedom of the people, which Deirdre had stood down to preserve. Fermenting discord and anarchy had been all he was good for. It was up to Deirdre now to take action. She had two hours. Two hours in which to achieve the near-impossible. Abdim must be overthrown, his forces disarmed, unless they were ready to serve her. Then the walls must be manned, and then somehow, the Spartans must be driven away. Deirdre muttered under her breath, angry at how over-confident she had been. Of course the Spartans were not fools. They would launch an attack against Gaia's Landing, the second they heard of a change in government. Change always meant weakness, at least until the people were used to it.
Walking through the mass hysteria and rioting, Deirdre felt a strange sort of detachment. She could still sense the terrible anxiety, the worry that her city might fall under the Spartan menace. Diehl walked with her, he and thirty other guards forming a wall of muscle against the rioters.
The sound was unbelievable. It was as if the souls of every Gaian present were screaming through their throats. Abdim, in his foolishness, had obviously deemed the populace of little threat, for only three detachments of his warriors had been sent into the streets, and they had been swiftly, and utterly annihilated.
The crowds were shrieking the name of their leader, shouting for Deirdre. She felt her heart go heavy. They were not peaceful. Years of war had changed that. Years of fighting, of suffering under other leader's disregard for them had changed her people. Now, they were warlike. Their ideals, everything they had once held dear, were gone, evaporated like morning mist.
Deirdre hardened her heart. She could not cry. She must not cry! The war had done this, only the war! Once Santiago had been beaten, things could go back to how they were before.
A cynical burst of laughter escaped her lips. Who was she kidding? Everything back to how it was? What, was she somebody from Earth? A young girl believing adamantly that her views would be listened to? Was she that naïve? Could she really believe that her people, having had a taste of power, would give that up readily? Would they once again take their place in the mud, bowing down to greater factions?
No. Even Deirdre would not do that. Never, had been the promise in New Glasgow, never to bow, never to scrape, never to be humiliated, and never to be beaten! The pacifist's would become victorious, they had all said, but only now was Deirdre realising the true price of that statement. When was it that they would cease to be pacifists? Was it possible to be a pacifist anymore, when war was so easy, and so consuming?
All these questions floated around the head of Deirdre, sniping at her, worming away into the solid wall of bravado she had erected. Long ago, she had convinced herself that she must never show weakness. She would be a strong leader, a leader that her people could look up to and revere.
Yet they didn't. For all this show of loyalty, for all these people yelling her name, praising her, and cursing Abdim, she knew the truth. Had she been making the mistakes of Abdim, they would be cheering him. In fact, she had been so unpopular by being seen as the cause of the war, that it had taken a bungling hand such as that of Abdim on the reins to turn them back to her.
The riots grew more intense, and suddenly Diehl stared directing the men into a side alley. Deirdre raised an eyebrow, but he just shook his head. Now was not the time for discussions.
Deirdre moved with them, and soon they had moved out of the riots. It was disconcerting, to be plunged into cool darkness of an alley, and to hear the screaming as only a distant sound instead of the pounding maelstrom always around her head.
"Lady, since Abdim seized power, I have taken the liberty to prepare a strike force. Three hundred men are bunkered within the chambers underneath this alley. Within then minutes, we can be ready to strike at the man himself. If we move quickly enough, we can punch into the palace, and take him as he sits in your throne room. Without him, the guards will willingly serve you, and we can quickly move to turn against the Spartans."
Deirdre felt a sudden sheet of indecision rush through her. Could she order it? Could she allow her soldiers to remove an innocent man from power, the only crime being his ambition and stupidity? Watching her hesitate, Diehl sighed.
"It is him, or Gaia's Landing, my lady. You must choose. I know what you feel; you wish you had never gone to war. You have seen the way our people are acting, and you despise yourself. Nevertheless, we will pull through, we always have. We will weather this storm of violence, and wake again to a new spring, a new peace. This I can promise, and let Planet steal my life if I lie."
Deirdre nodded. "Very well. Let the attack commence. I will move in with you. I must be ready to take personal command immediately. I also need any spare forces to round up the members of the Senate. Hold them in custody. Say it is for their protection, or something. We cannot have them running around and muddying the waters. I must have an hour of absolute control before the Spartans get here, or this city is lost. I will atone for my actions after, but I now act for the salvation of Gaia."
Diehl looked at Deirdre. She knew that the tearing guilt, and rising indecision must be evident. She must look more the foolish girl than ever before. Breathing out, she waited. A door opened, and it took her a moment for her eyes to adjust to the darkness.
In ten minutes, they were moving through a vast network of dark tunnels, Deirdre behind thirty troops, but in front of three hundred. They were all alert, bearing weapons of the finest technology. Her last chance to save the city rested with these soldiers, and both they, and she, knew it.
They walked on and on, in almost absolute darkness. Deirdre closed her eyes, and prayed. She prayed to God, and Planet. She would need both to succeed, she felt.
Diehl stopped, and said. "This is it. The door. First Detachment, when you get through the door, takes out anything that moves. Second Detachment; secure the entrances to the palace. Third, stand ready in support. Fourth, you shall come with the Lady and I to the throne room."
A resounding chorus, whispers of affirmation, made Deirdre bow her head in shame. She felt torn. She was asking these men and women to give their lives to put her back in power.
No, a voice murmured in her head. They fight of their own accord, and they fight for Gaia. They fight for freedom, and they fight for peace. Fighting for peace is the only way to keep it. Deirdre shuddered, and then spoke quietly.
"Good luck. May Planet go with you, and guide you into her bosom."
Silence.
Diehl then shouted loudly. "Go! First Company, through the door, now!"
A flash of an explosion from outside illuminated the tunnel, and Deirdre frowned. She had not known there were windows in the tunnel. The way Diehl was reacting neither had he. As the First Detachment moved through, blasting into the palace halls, Deirdre felt a prickling sense of danger.
"Commander, where is the light coming fro-"
She paused, her mouth open. The way they had just come, patrols of Spartans had arrived. Deirdre had time enough to curse, before laser shots filled the tunnels. Diehl dragged her to the floor, in order to avoid the shots. Third Detachment moved to intercept the Spartans, and Diehl roared.
"Continue with the plan! Third can hold them off, we must take the throne room. Move! Move! Move!"
Seemingly unconcerned by the firing shots, the Gaian soldiers rushed into the palace. Deirdre followed them. Diehl pulled her with him, almost viciously. She gasped as a laser shot struck her on the shoulder. Diehl looked up. From overhanging balconies of the upper floor, Spartan warriors were shooting, laughing as they did so.
Diehl swore. "The bastards have taken the palace!"
Deirdre looked around, and when she saw Gaian fighting Gaian, even when Spartans were abroad, she paled with anger.
"I did not know his treachery went this far! Diehl. Pull all detachments back. If we take the throne room, we can at least summon aid from the other factions. Abdim must have made a deal with Santiago, the bastard!"
All around them, Gaians died, as the Spartans began to take the palace.
Twenty minutes later, Deirdre stood outside the throne room. It was quiet here, for they had broken through the lines, and had passed any resistance. Now seventy of her soldiers waited for her word to blast open the doors of the throne room, where they would find Abdim, in his treacherous power.
Diehl still stood with her, his eyes grim. The treachery had hit him harder than she. That not only Abdim, but Gaians as well considered siding with the enemy had left him dumbfounded.
With a gesture towards the door, Deirdre gave the order for the attack to begin. Her future, and that of her faction, was now in the balance. It was for her to decide.
When the doors blasted open, Deirdre was surprised at the amount of smoke. After it had cleared, her mouth dropped open. Santiago sat on her throne, smiling evilly.
Note: Sorry about how this chapter is short, and boring. I am exhausted, and have just got in from school, and so it is the worst time to have an inspiration kick. Nevertheless, here is the next chapter. Don't be TOO critical, please. I can't take it.
