Re: Dawn
2406.7
Nekkar III
Monthly empire status report
The presenter led off with very good news. Five more planets were colonized last month. Three more research colonies and two resource storage colonies. The number of planets left to colonize was shrinking. The space yards would stand down as soon as they could and upgrade. Climate control facilities were under construction at the planets where ship construction was taking place.
The research department announced the discovery of high-energy weapons, phased weapons and scanner technology. The Cue Cappa had sent their research on supply as per the treaty they were still honoring. Education in the system was improving, and younger and younger students were accessing the research networks. During the day, these students were submitting ideas – no matter how unrealistic they may have seemed. Later, their computers were used by the research labs on the planets to run equations, models, and tests. It was a geometric progression of staggering proportions. The more people who had networked computers, the more processing power the labs had access to. And the more power they had, the faster they made discoveries. Which led to more networked computers. And more processing power. And so on. And so on. What it amounted to was that the Dawn empire had entire planet populations dedicated to the discovery of new technologies. And it was paying off.
The briefing continued. Avery Smith began his report about the capture of spies within the design bureau. Chairman Lomax interrupted him.
“I’m sorry, Avery; but I have a pressing matter that I need to deal with. Guard, would you ask Miss Edwards to come in?”
Avery looked annoyed and then bored when Rita Edwards was escorted into the briefing room. Strikingly beautiful, she sat down without saying a word.
“Mr. Chairman, I realize I wasn’t here last month, but Miss Edwards did submit the report for me. As my assistant,”
Lomax interrupted again.
“And your lover.”
Smith fumed at that.
“Mr. Chairman, you have..”
”Mr. Smith, you do understand the rules regarding fraternization, do you not?”
Smith could hardly believe this.
“Fraternization??!?? Are you serious??”
Lomax continued.
“I’m afraid so, Mr. Smith. I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask for your resignation, and Miss Edwards’ as well.”
Rita Edwards handed an envelope to the guard. The other guard moved in behind Avery.
Smith was still incredulous.
“Mr. Chairman, I will not submit a letter of resignation. You do not...”
Lomax continued with an even voice.
“Avery, I know about Spider. We have the technician from Ushphada III. We have the directed beam transmission back and forth to your PCS from the satellite logs. I know the Cue Cappa frigate wasn’t destroyed by mercenaries, but by fighters. Dawn fighters. Citizens of Dawn killed, Avery, and were killed on your orders, Avery. There were no mercenaries.”
Avery wasn’t backing down.
“Chairman, if you don’t agree with the conclusion of my report, fine. Perhaps it was dissidents within the empire that...”
And just like that, it was over.
“Your report, Avery? Don’t you mean the department report? No matter, but you are right about dissidents.”
Lomax just stared at Smith, who didn’t move. The other board members were quiet as well, not knowing exactly what was happening, only that they were glad to be spectators, and not participants.
“You almost started a war, Avery – and for what? The Cue Cappa weren’t a threat, so the only threat to you would be me. But your own machinations led you astray again, Mr. Smith. I have nothing against you, so you objected to my policies. You didn’t want peace, did you? You wanted us to conquer, and for nothing more than your own lust for power.”
Again, Smith said nothing.
“No matter”, Lomax concluded. “As I said, we have your operative from the lab on Ushphada III. Or rather we had. I understand he participated in the high-energy weapon test. As for you, however, we have a new mineral storage planet that is in need of workers. Avery, I wish you well in your new endeavor. Miss Edwards?”
Rita Edwards stood and moved around the table, and sat in Avery’s old chair. This was too much for Smith.
“But she resigned as well!!”
Lomax cleared the point for Avery.
“Yes, Avery, she is no longer the ‘Assistant’ to the Director of Intelligence Operations.”
On their way down the stairs towards the door, the guard withdrew a weapon from his pocket, and Avery Smith was no more.
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