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| Lpnet2-100 Lpnet2: The 4D Earth War Chapter One: Callisto Colony Two Chapter Two: To Amplexa and Tranqua Chapter Three: Asteroid Mining, Politics, and War Chapter Four: Return to Earth Chapter Five: A Friendly Reunion Chapter Six: The Last Outpost Chapter Seven: Air-strike in the Night Chapter Eight: The Temporal Connection Chapter Nine: The Temporal Intersection Chapter Ten: Reunion with Old Friends Chapter Eleven: Ideals for the Future Chapter Twelve: Stonedancer Grounded |
The 4D Earth War
Chapter 1: Callisto Colony Two Callisto was not one of Jupiter’s more colorful moons, but terra-forming processes within several farm community biospheres were slowly but surely adding some. The stability of Callisto made it cheaper to terra-form, in the long run, than Ganymede, but Europa was still the most favorable of the three. It was November 5, 2092, over 3 years since the ‘Temple of the Lost Planet’ had been founded at Callisto Colony 2. In that time, I’d managed to build a small mining company with its main subsidiary on Amplexa, the asteroid where it all began. Life had been good to me, ever since escaping the confines of Amplexa, but work had been complicated by the continuing battle over mining rites. Mars, with its AMV (asteroid-mining vehicle) ‘corporation’ still insisted on dictating those rites to the Jovian colonies, and I was beginning to see why the Europans were so nasty about it. Mars literally wanted the whole asteroid belt for itself. Ganymede, the Martian admiral’s favorite, was first in line to those rites, and was content to accept it. As for Callisto, it was caught in the middle of Ganymede’s contentment and Europa’s disappointment. The fact was, Europa was last in line simply because it was the only ‘independent’ moon not under Martian jurisdiction. Ever since its independence in 2080, Europa had been forced into acts of piracy by Martian neglect. I hadn’t realized this fact until my second year on Callisto, after a battle with the Martians for the independence of my own Callisto-based mining company. I sat in the office overlooking the cargo bay and turned my gaze out the window. The dome of Callisto Colony Two was just meters away, and a massive airlock, where the ships docked, was right around the curve. I looked out the window, through the dome, and sited the massive ‘solar windship’ under construction. It was almost complete and due to begin its voyage to the over- populated planet Earth. I looked across the barren, rocky face of Callisto, then upward, to the deep, blue coldness of space. Suddenly, the video com-link buzzed and called my wandering thoughts back to reality. “Mr. Querzo,” the face of Kunello, my Europan representative, addressed me with urgency. “The AMV has just made claims in sector Sigma, on Astraea. We were led to understand that Astraea was our stone.” “It is,” I replied, “there must be some mistake. The AMV has never been interested in Astraea.” “It is now,” Kunello insisted. “I’d advise you to reevaluate the latest reports on Astraea. They may have changed their mind.” “If so, what do you propose I do?” I said, not ready to presume the worst. “Astraea was sold to Europa by the Amplexan company,” he said, “We would expect you to uphold that claim.” “Astraea was a gift,” I corrected him. “All I expected from you was cooperation, in return.” “That,” he pronounced, “is why I am talking to you now. I’ve been authorized to inform you that further AMV violations upon Astraea will only serve to deteriorate that compromise.” “I see,” I said, with slight dismay. “It seems I have a date with the AMV, again.” “I suggest you make no delay,” Kunello said. “The Europans haven’t taken easy to this mining alliance. They have too much Viking spirit.” “Understood,” I agreed. “I’ll get on it at once. Expect my report in 24 hours.” “We’ll expect results,” he said, “in 2 days. No more.” At that, he signed off, and left me staring at the Colonial Communications test pattern. After almost 3 years of disputes, I was beginning to regret volunteering my services as a ‘mediator’ between Mars and Europa, but it did seem to be paying off. Not only were Europa and Callisto prospering more, but the knowledge of Tranqua was most helpful in upgrading colonial standards. As I was about to put in a call to the AMV, the Mars-based mining organization, I received a call from my personal physician, Dr. Vanezo. She reminded me that I was due for a biannual physical, and insisted until I agreed to see her. I checked the time and sent the call to the AMV. There was a delay of about a minute, and then the face of a secondary officer appeared. “Mr. Querzo?” the officer said. “What can I do for you?” “Let me talk to Captain Nezmot.” There was another minute delay, and then the officer appeared again. “I’m sorry, sir,” he said. “Captain Nezmot is in conference. Can I take a message?” “Tell her to call me as soon as she gets the chance, at my Callisto office.” As I signed out, Grodena, the chief of security, requested entrance and said it was urgent. “What is it?” I said, anticipating a local disturbance. “Turn on your video, quick,” he said, and I complied. A special news-bulletin was on and I wondered what it was about. “At 12 am, eastern standard time,” the reporter said, “the first of two atomic bombs exploded in Eastern Europe, and the Minor League of Third World Nations declared war with the United Nations. China and Japan have, thus far, given no response to their position in it.” The video began showing scenes of conventional war in Europe and faction fighting in America. “My God,” I said. “They just couldn’t resist, could they? Even after we told them we’d be prepared to accept 100 times the usual amount of settlers within 2 years. Damn it, why couldn’t they wait for the windships?” “I don’t know, Ron,” Grodena said. “Things are too congested as it is. Could be they just couldn’t wait another 2 years.” “But nuclear bombs!” I cursed. “How could they use nuclear bombs? They’ve got to be crazy!” He stood there, speechless, mesmerized by the war scenes rolling over the video. I cursed again, threw on my coat, and left the office. |
Chapter Thirteen: Rebels in the Aftermath Chapter Fourteen: Temporal Relativity Chapter Fifteen: The Hand was Forced Chapter Sixteen: Ion Trace to the West Chapter Seventeen: A Warlord and an Evacuation |
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