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Rogue Planet

Chapter 1

Tau Bootis

Christopher Lehmann

Daniel Picciotto

Rogue Planet—Chapter 1: Tau Bootis

“There is nothing better than imagining other worlds,” he said, “to forget the painful one we live in... At least so I thought then. I hadn‟t yet realised that imagining other worlds you end up changing this one.” Umberto Eco, Baudolino (page 99, 2003 edition)

Rogue Planet—Chapter 1: Tau Bootis The 31st Century. 3091... Earth‟s population has surpassed the 40 billion mark; the planet‟s natural resources are exhausted; the ecosystem on the verge of total collapse; once abundant supplies of fossil fuels have long been spent; deforestation, global warming, and endemic pollution has laid to waste large sectors of previously fertile lands; mass poverty, starvation, famine and disease afflict countless billions while the privileged elite enjoy all the economic, political and medicinal benefits that a technologically advanced civilisation can provide.

So long dependent on complex technologies and the fossil fuels required to operate them, the exhaustion of mankind‟s major energy sources coupled with the failure of substitute energies to satisfy demand necessitated the exploration, discovery and exploitation of alternate energy sources on the inner and outer planet‟s and their satellites. As a result outer world colonies now supply the Earth with much of its resource requirements; from fossil fuels to raw materials; from minerals to precious metals.

Despite having attained self sufficiency however the outer colonies are stringently controlled by an Earth-based, multi-civilisational collective known as the Federation of Earth‟s Territories, or FET. Under the terms of its charter, FET is charged with the maintenance of economic, political and legal order; the management of inter-planetary supply and trade routes; and the provision of security and aid to the colonies and their outposts. In addition FET‟s tax and law enforcement role has seen much of the wealth generated by the colonies syphoned back to Earthbased controlling bodies resulting in increasing resentment of FET policies and practices. This resentment has accelerated the rise of strong localised identities; heightened regional awareness; and mainstream separatist sentiments amongst many of the outer colonies.

Rogue Planet—Chapter 1: Tau Bootis Nowhere are such sentiments more pronounced than on Jupiter‟s four Galilean satellites: Callisto, Europa, Ganymede and IO. While each satellite boasts a wealth of natural resources it is the presence of CSILINIUM on IO, alongside FET‟s attempt to control its supply and distribution, which has ignited the region. Csilinium… that almost supernatural healing agent… quickly became the most sought after and expensive material in the solar system courtesy of its ability to reverse the visible signs of ageing; slow the internal and external ageing process; revitalise organs; rejuvenate damaged tissues and bones; stimulate the production of disease resistant hyper immune red and white blood cells; and prolong the human life span.

In an attempt to wrest control of this resource from FET and ensure revenues and profits derived from the exploitation of Csilinium were retained by local and regional interests, the government‟s of the Jupiter rim sought to levy a number of duties and taxes on the sale of Csilinium to the inner planets. Earth, having financed the exploration and development of the outer colonies, refused to recognise the right of colonies to impose such duties and taxes in the first place. A subsequent clampdown on political insurgents and separatist elements followed, with FET law enforcement personnel policing key trade routes, mining portals and distribution hubs.

While the clampdown effectively quashed official government sanctioned anti-FET activities, many analysts fear it merely served to radicalise and unify formerly disparate political groups… turning the outer colonies into a tinderbox…

The Jupiter rim… Earth day 144, Earth year 3091 A short range FET recon ship approaches the remote refuelling station Tau Bootis, where separatist insurgents have seized control of the bridge...

...refusing to allow the Patna - an Earth bound cargo ship carrying a large supply of CSILINIUM to refuel...

FET Incident Report: Jupiter Rim, ED 144, EY 3091. Sector 6, RRS Tau Bootis: In line with FET decree No. 2573|JR91|514E relating to the enforcement of law and order in the outer colonies; the protection of business and commercial activities and interests; the maintenance of private and public property and proprietary rights; and the preservation of the rule of law, Governor Keenan authorised FET military command to quell the separatist uprising on Tau Bootis, a remote refuelling station situated in sector 6. The closest refuelling station to Jupiter and its Galilean satellites, Tau Bootis is one of nine stations servicing the 630 million kilometre Jupiter to Earth trade route [1]. In effect the first pit -stop for cargo and container ships on their long and arduous journey to Earth, Tau Bootis represents a critical link in the supply chain connecting the inner and outer planets and their satellites. In addition to jeopardising the supply of much needed fossil fuels and other critical raw materials to Earth and the inner planets (including exports of Csilinium from Io), the uprising on Tau Bootis represented a flagrant threat to FET sovereignty and the peaceful and orderly governance of the region. A state-of-affairs which FET presidential member Nikita Molanov characterised as, “simply intolerable”... Accordingly, following consultation with the Governor and upon receipt of intelligence regarding separatist numbers and armament levels, a FET recon ship was dispatched to the region with orders to: [1] re-establish FET governance and control of the station; [2] seize and secure Csilinium supplies on the moored cargo ship the Patna; [3] smash the separatist resistance; [4] restore law and order; and [5] secure the safe release of any & all hostages, with priority given to the station manager Verna Juergensmeyer. Level of force authorised—Extreme. The only suitable FET vessel in proximity to Tau Bootis was the Raven, a standard P-type reconnaissance ship equipped with short-range, medium impact beam and pulse lasers. The ship was busy conducting routine surveillance along known trade route trouble spots, when ordered to make its way to Tau Bootis… Crew: Captain Alt Raynor (ATSM); Lieutenant Gemma Williams (ATSM); 2nd Lieutenants Katarina DeLucia (ATSM) and Marco Alverez (ATSM); 6 mechanised flight personnel and 20 FET field soldiers... [1] The other eight being: Ottavia; Kirov; Marcello; Nabucco; Apollo; Xi; Magellan; and Kursk.

Another mission in one of the rim‟s more volatile hot spots... Another chance to impress Colonel Bogarde... Tau Bootis control… this is Alt Raynor Captain of the Raven… come in...

Hell, given the success of previous assignments at Portus and Red Rock maybe even General Strecker will hear of Captain Raynor‟s exploits......

Tau Bootis control… this is Alt Raynor Captain of the Raven… come in... Lieutenant Williams, initialise boarding sequence, disable external host systems, commence countdown to contact ...

Boarding sequence initialised Captain, external host systems scrambled… engage in 3 minutes...

Now the damned have no time to make amends… their life‟s years consumed, their allotted days depleted...

Tau Bootis control… this is Alt Raynor captain of the Raven… Under the FET charter and by command of the regional governor of the Jupiter rim, I am assuming control of this station...

Secondment to the Jupiter rim had certainly been a fortuitous career move… and Colonel Bogarde had made it known that further success on Tau Bootis could fast-track yet another promotion...

This is your final warning!! You are ordered to stand down immediately...

Alverez, is the team prepped for contact?

Ready to party LT. Just open the hatch and let us loose...

Okay lads, here they come! Concentrate your fire on the ATSM‟s… Don‟t let nofin‟ through!

Is it true what they say about those ATSM‟s?

Stand firm son... It‟s payback time...

Hey LT… You and the Captain should‟ve stayed all warm and cosy up on the bridge. Me, Kat and the team „ll handle this rabble...

What… „n let you and Kat have all the fun? Not Likely Marco!

FET Incident Report... cont... : ... A graduate of the FET Academy at Olympus [1], Captain Raynor was awarded the honour of Knight of the Realm for valorous conduct as a result of his role in quelling the uprising at the Portus prison facility [2]. Refer FET Incident Report Ma89|1393|510M. Captain Raynor also received a number of commendations from superior officers, including Colonel Bogarde and Major Reinhardt, following his posting to the FET Csilinium Production & Harvesting Protection Unit. In recommending Lieutenant Raynor, as he was then, be promoted to Captain, Colonel Bogarde made mention of candidate Raynor‟s „exemplary‟ service record and „impressive‟ list of military achievements; attained, as the Colonel remarked, over a remarkably short period of service... ... Highlighted achievements include: I. Infiltration and destruction of a number of Csilinium drug smuggling rings; II. The exposure of corrupt regional governors and mining officials; III. The prevention of a planned terrorist attack on an Ionian mining facility at Red Rock; and IV. The pursuit and capture of a stolen shipment of Csilinium from the pirate vessel, the Nosferatu. On Colonel Bogarde‟s express recommendation candidate Raynor was promoted to Captain and posted to the FET starship cruiser, the Endeavour, where he was awarded command of the Raven. A post which he has, to this point, served with distinction (refer reports of senior officers Colonel Peters and Major Symonds)...

[1] Olympus is a domed Martian city, located near Olympus Mons. [2] Portus is an orbital habitat platform, located off the planet Mars, with a category „A‟ prison facility. Category „A‟ prison facilities hold criminals convicted of violent offences of a non-political/non-terrorist nature.

Can the chatter peoples... Get focussed. Contact in 2 minutes...

From 2nd Lieutenant to Lieutenant Colonel in less than three years! ... An intoxicating thought… but not one to focus on right now...

Starting formations...

Weapons check… engage in 1 minute...

...„cause once that door‟s opened...

… things will all go to hell...

Engage in 30 seconds...

10 seconds...

How speedily is life exhausted, how readily the residual years become mere minutes…

5...

Minutes become seconds… Until nothing remains...

4...

3...

… but deliverance….

2...

1...