Re: \"Titans\" -Warriors of Virtue
INT. ISHNU CITY - CELL
Krrzkadd's laughter washes over Kaheel in percussive waves - an unstoppable force, but he hardly notices. His mind is reeling, lost in the revelation that the creatures they'd seen, including those putrid liquifiying remains they'd discovered, could have EVER been human. Rage begins to well up inside him, (NOT YET!) but he chokes it down and remains outwardly objective and serene. In measured tones he asks his next question, perhaps the only real question possible at this moment.
KAHEEL
Why?
KRRZKADD
IT FURTHERS OUR SCIENCE
Vai "science".
Kaheel knew all about that. He remembered their arrival fifteen years earlier, initially shrouded in secrecy, but then followed by the subsequent public discovery of their true interest in humanity. He was stationed on Mars Base 17, in the shadow of Olympus Mons. He had emmigrated to Earth from his native planet of Calder III two Earth years earlier, with his wife and child in tow.
Relations between the Terran and Calder goverments had been cordial and beneficial to both for about a decade. Although Calder's technology was somewhat inferior to Earth, the people of Calder III had a wealth of natural resources right under their feet. Earth corporations made proposals, and teams of Earth geologists, minerologists, and environmentalists worked with the native people to extract these resources and share the profits. Eventually, anti-Earth sentiment grew among some political segments of the population. They resented the fact that EarthCorps were getting rich off of resources that their Gods had created strictly for them.
After eight years, the Earth/Calder partnership fell apart, the victim of a government coup. The new leaders of Calder were quick to nationalize the refineries, factories, real estate, and infrastructure that the EarthCorps had set up to get the job done. All humans were branded profiteers and expelled from Calder. The EarthCorps, who had invested 3.2 trillion Earth Currency Units and were just about to begin seeing profits, began calling their insurers.
In the intervening years, after the "Great Awakening" as it was referred to on Calder, the plight of the average citizen was subjugated to the "Will of the World". The exploitation of natural resources continued unabated, and yet poverty grew at a sharp rate. Civilians marched against their leaders and protested the deteriorating state of their economy..... until one day the protests were met with lethal force.
Kaheel, who had been making a fairly good living as a extraction drill operator in the city of Laconos, sensed very bad times coming. So at great financial risk he acquired exit passes for himself, his wife Chellah, and his son Keevon. Calder III had become far too dangerous, and Keevon deserved a future on a world where he could achieve his dreams.
Earth was such a world.
So it was that in 2232, Kaheel and his family, along with several other Calder refugees, arrived at Kyoto Spaceport on a rainy Friday morning. Luckily for them, they were familiar with the English language since Kaheel had been taught to speak it during his work with the EarthCorps. In turn, he had passed it on to his wife and child. As he listened to conversations, though, he heard several languages that were decidedly NOT English. Just before panic set in, he heard a voice broadcast over speakers that he could understand. It was amzing. What an exciting world! What a blending of people, and thought, and culture! They wouldn't be outcasts here at all! Heads head high, the Kaheel family vanished into the bustling rush-hour crowd. Within a month, they had successfully found lodgings and started their new lives as Terrans.
As it turned out, Kaheel lacked any of the proper skills necessary to obtain adequate employment. He still loved the freedom and the cultural aspects of Earth, but this money thing..... it was a "royal pain in the ass". He had heard a human use that expression and it sounded very regal, so he repeated it often. After a mere thirteen months of residency on Earth, Kaheel joined the military. Chellah was, of course, upset. She hadn't moved all the way to Earth to spend her time without a husband. But the choice was ultimately live on Earth without a husband, or live on Earth without a roof over her head. She relented, and he promised her that he would receive career re-training. Earth was currently at peace. He would exit the military in three years, well-versed in Earth technology, and eminently employable! At least that was what the military recruiter told him. There was even something called "veteran's preference". They celebrated their every moment together, as if storing up love for a long winter, until finally Kaheel left home for the last time and headed for basic training on Mars. In six months, his family would be able to visit him. Chellah booked tickets in advance on the Earth transport Joshua Coxx, aisle seats.
On Mars, Kaheel watched the events unfolding between the Earth government and the Vai delegation with a mixture of horror and amusement. That they would've even suggested such a thing. He would be relieved when the trolls returned to whatever filth they had crawled from.
The military had been put on alert as a precaution, but it appeared that the Vai would leave quietly, now that their secret was out. He sincerely hoped he would not be deployed to Earth now. He was all set to go on leave and it would be extremely unfair if "fate", as they call it, were to ship him off to Earth just as his wife and child were ferrying to Mars to meet him.
He pictured two ships passing in space, he in one, Chellah and Keevon in the other. Chellah, is holding Keevon up to the window and pointing, saying, "There he is! Wave to Daddie!"
"Too funny", he says to himself as he smiles at the thought of the ludicrous scenario. He would not smile again for many years.
Fate did deal an ironic hand to Kaheel that day, for he was in fact deployed. All units were mobilized once it was learned that the Vai were attacking Earth transports in the Mars shipping lanes. Preppped for battle, battling his own inner fears, Kaheel desperately scrutinized the stars from the port-side window of the troop carrier Viceroy for a sign of the Earth transport Joshua Coxx, safe from harm and en-route to Mars.
But they were gone, without so much as a wave.
Back on Mars, six days later, Kaheel was called to a meeting in the Master Sargent's office. He is rigid, unreadable, and seemingly devoid of emotion.
MASTER SARGENT O'NEILL
I'm sorry about your loss, son.
KAHEEL (hard)
Yes, sir.
MASTER SARGENT O'NEILL
We still don't know the condition of the civilians. We might be able to get them back. No guarantees, but it's possible.
Kaheel stands at attention, unblinking, not daring to believe in hope. O'Neill seems to expect a response. Not recieving one, he proceeds.
MASTER SARGENT O'NEILL
Report to Building 3, in the Lab Sector at 0800 hours. I've already granted you clearance. Dismissed.
Kaheel turns on his heels sharply and exits the room.
0800 hours. Kaheel reported fifteen minutes early to Building 3 and found himself in the company of 18 fellow Calderans, which if he wasn't mistaken, was ever Calderan they had. Some were chatting in mixed English and Calderan, enjoying the camraderie of both the military and their homeworld, but Kaheel remained silent and kept to himself.
He was intrigued by this strange development, though.
The back door to the conference room opened and an attractive, but very young human female entered the room. The Calderans ceased talking and gave her their full attention. Amused by their formality, she spoke:
"At ease, soldiers. Good morning, my name is Dr Chenei. I worked for Dr Henderson up until a week ago, but it looks like I'm in charge now, whether I like it or not. I guess you're wondering why you're here."
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To be continued
Did I get sidetracked or what?
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"When something we value is destroyed, we rebuild it. If it's destroyed again we rebuild it again. And again, and again, and again. Until it stays. "
~Jeffrey Sinclair
[This message has been edited by B5_Obsessed (edited October 24, 2001).]
They're not *quite* willing to sacrifice themselves over a sample or two, unless they get a larger bonus or a crewmate's life is at stake.
