Curse of the Legion (35 page)

Conflict with the Omnis

The O's are a very real threat and the current hiatus in aggression will surely not last. Our ancestors died by the billions in combating these dangerous alien warriors of immense psychic powers. For 300 years the Legion has served as humanity's trip wire against the encroachment of these alien hordes. During the Plague War, Fleetcom outfought the Omni starships, and forced them into retreat, at a fearsome toll in human lives. When the O's move again ConFree, Fleetcom and the Legion will be there, whether or not the population of the Inners is still taught history.

Slavery

ConFree and the Legion fight tyranny and slavery, without compromise. We regard the System's so-called Voluntary Servitude and taxation slavery as equally as repugnant and odious as involuntary slavery. Any incursions into ConFree vac by slavers are countered immediately by Fleetcom, and result in the immediate execution of the slavers and the freeing of the slaves.

The people of ConFree want only to live in peace, but they will never compromise their independence and will always respond vigorously to any threats to their sovereignty. We hope you enjoy your visit to ConFree.

United System Alliance,
a Brief Summary for Visitors

UNCLASSIFIED

United System Alliance — Ministry of Truth

Date: 1444/01/45

To: All Ports of Entry — Inners, Gulf, Gassies / System, USICOM, All Milzones

Subject: United System Alliance — A Brief Summary for Visitors

Following is for distribution to ALL repeat ALL non-citizen visitors arriving at System Ports of Entry.

The United System Alliance: A Brief Summary for Visitors

Welcome to the United System Alliance. We hope it had a pleasant journey and we extend fraternal greetings from our State and People. Because of extensive hateprop disseminated by the CrimCon, we find it necessary to assist all visitors in understanding the truth about our thriving galactic society, a showcase for true democracy and equality.

The United System Alliance — a Democratic Empire

The United System Alliance (the System) is a universal, social democratic empire based on Goodlib humanitarian, egalitarian ideals and embracing over half of the inhabited galaxy. All of the Inners and almost all Gulf and Gassies worlds fall under the System's Rule of Law. Only the Outers worlds of the Criminal Conspiracy (CrimCon) still reject democratic ideals. The System represents galactic equality for all, and is the last best hope of everyone who embraces true equality and rejects false doctrines of individuality and greed.

Citizenship — A Mass Democracy

In System social democracy, citizenship is open to all, voting is universal and compulsory, and there are no class distinctions. We proudly contrast our egalitarian ideals to those of the CrimCon, where citizenship is the prerogative of a privileged class, and noncitizens do not even have the right to vote on matters affecting their future. Under the System, everyone votes, without age or other limitations. On Voting Day, the incarcerated, those with mental issues, schoolchildren and alien visitors all participate in choosing our government. The result is a progressive society in which there is a surprising degree of unanimity. Although anyone is free to contest the System, official candidates routinely poll above 98 percent of the vote.

Voluntary Servitude — A Public Duty

Voluntary Servitude (VS) is the foundation of the System and is based on the cooperative, egalitarian spirit that System citizens have always possessed. VS is a decision of the highest Goodlib morality in which the individual voluntarily embraces the interests of the State and the People above selfish personal needs. Through VS, the State is able to accomplish public projects that could never be considered in a society based on individual greed. Those citizens who volunteer for VS are honored by the State for their decision to dedicate their life to serving the State and the People.

Directed Service — Reform and Rehabilitation

As in every society, a handful of malcontents and alien subversives make efforts to wreck and sabotage our smoothly-running democracy. Unlike the CrimCon, we deal humanely with such incorrigibles through Directed Service (DS). After a period of patient psymed reform and rehabilitation (RR), DS units serve the people voluntarily alongside their VS colleagues, helping to strengthen the society they had formerly opposed.

Rule of Law — Equality for All

Under System rule, we are all equal, and any disagreements that arise are settled by the Rule of Law. Whether it is a citizen seeking compensation from another citizen who appears to possess more, or a citizen accused of wealth or elitist thoughtcrime, the Rule of Law will determine the result fairly and redistribute any inequality. Law is our most highly respected profession, the Rule of Law is sacrosanct, and State Lawyers settle all disputes.

Coping with Violence

The System views violence as the inevitable product of the remnants of inequality still present in our society. We do not punish those social victims who resort to violence through frustration, but concentrate our efforts on the targets of the violence. We have found these units are invariably guilty of thoughtcrime, and we detain them for observation and psymed reform when appropriate. As a reminder to visitors, it is highly illegal to resist violence, and when approached by a citizen seeking redistribution, it is mandatory to comply.

Voluntary Contributions — Funding True Equality

No society can function without an efficient Government, and no Government can function without adequate funds to compensate the Administration and constantly redistribute society's wealth to maintain true equality. This is especially true in a universal democratic empire such as the System. Our citizens understand the need for Voluntary Contribution (VC) of funds to the Ministry of Distribution. The current VC rate is 82 percent of income, and it funds a great many important programs demanded by our citizens.

Education — Social Responsibility

In the System, education is mandatory and universal through midschool. The Ministry of Youth focuses on producing good citizens who embrace democratic ideals. The Ministry does not teach the discredited facts-skills-history model but molds young minds to embrace our democratic ideals. Those youth with the highest social consciousness are sponsored into higher education to serve the State.

Health for All

The System is proud of its universal health care, available at no cost to all from the Ministry of Health. Our citizens have repeatedly affirmed their preference for security over individualism, and the State guarantees health and security for all..

Galactic Defense — Resisting the CrimCon

Because of continuing aggression from the CrimCon, based in the Outers, the System is forced to maintain a strong military posture throughout the Inners, the Gulf and the Gassies. Under the Ministry of Peace, our Defense Command (DEFCOM) directs our forces with the cooperation of the United System Interstellar Commission (USICOM) and the United System Defense Alliance (USDA), both representing allied worlds. DEFCOM commands both the Defense Corps (DefCorps) and Starfleet, consisting of our stellar infantry strike forces and our galactic navy. The STRATCOM Information Service is another important element in maintaining galactic peace. Starfleet and the DefCorps have repeatedly defeated the ConFree Legion and the CrimCon's Fleetcom, but the CrimCon continues its reckless and frantic provocations designed to plunge the galaxy into a general war. The System is pledged to resist these piratical attacks. Every System citizen should never forget that the CrimCon betrayed humanity by allying itself with the remnants of the Assidic Empire, and did its best to destroy the System, threatening all humanity at a critical point in galactic development. More recently, while our forces were bravely resisting the onslaught of the Variant hordes, the CrimCon attempted to ally itself with these merciless alien marauders. Although they call themselves the ConFree (Confederation of Free Worlds), the CrimCon is neither a confederation nor is it free. It is a genocidal, dictatorial gang of mercenary anarchists, motivated by loot and greed.

The Ministry of Truth wishes it a pleasant day.

Advice from a Wiser Age

"I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man."

—Thomas Jefferson

"There is not a truth existing which I fear… or would wish unknown to the whole world."

—Thomas Jefferson

"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."

—Thomas Jefferson

"When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty."

—Thomas Jefferson

"The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance."

—Cicero

Author Interview

MilSciFi.com interviews Marshall S. Thomas, author of the military science fiction novel, Cross of the Legion, book five in the Solder of the Legion science-fiction series.

MilSciFi: Welcome back. Please tell us about your latest novel.

Thank you, Mike. Cross of the Legion is book five of the Soldier of the Legion science-fiction series. The war-weary Legion trooper Thinker is forced to abandon his family when his old friend and comrade Tara goes missing during a raid by the alien Omnis. His lover the sorceress Moontouch predicts a titanic struggle to the death for the future of humanity. The spidery Os, skilled telepaths with superior weapons and a taste for humans, have long been the scourge of the known universe, yet as Thinker hunts for Tara he discovers there is a terror that even the Omnis fear. An ancient killer is coming for everyone, human and Omni alike, and the only chance to stop it was obliterated more than two thousand years ago.

MilSciFi: What inspired you to write this story?

Book four, Secret of the Legion, ended with Thinker breaking rocks in a Legion stockade, vowing never to involve himself again with Tara. I couldn't leave him there, and I wanted to show that you cannot avoid your fate. By book five, Cross of the Legion, Tara was a high-ranking Legion official and once again in need of her favorite attack dog Thinker.

MilSciFi: Will the ending of book five lead directly to the opening of book six, Curse of the Legion?

In Curse of the Legion, six years have passed since the harrowing events described in Cross of the Legion. The galactic situation appears to have quieted down, but it is only the calm before the storm.

MilSciFi: Could you please tell us a little something about book six.

Curse of the Legion will be in print very soon. With the hated totalitarian System on the verge of collapse and the dreaded alien Omnis observing an unexpected truce, veteran soldier of the Legion Thinker has finally found happiness with his wife Priestess in a cozy home raising his children and teaching new Legion recruits. It is a dream he never thought possible, a haven of peace and comfort. It is also short-lived, as a savage massacre of Outworlder settlers on the Outvac planet Fortuna leads the Confederation of Free Worlds to an all-out war with the Gassies world Asumara. Only everything is not as it appears, and soon the Legion finds itself fighting for the survival of its civilization against a shadowy enemy willing to do the unthinkable to destroy ConFree.

What do you owe the future, and what do you owe the past? In this the final book of the series, Thinker is confronted with terrible dilemmas involving duty, loyalty, love, death, courage, and the survival or extinction of his civilization. It is all up to him — and he knows if he fails, billions may die or be cast into slavery.

MilSciFi: Does each book in the series stand alone, or do you need to read the series from the beginning?

I've written these so that a reader can pick up any of the books and enjoy and understand it. That said, it is a series and will be more satisfying if the series is read in order. The characters grow and change, and the green trooper Thinker of Book one is quite different from the confident and experienced Thinker of Book six.

MilSciFi: When you started, way back with Soldier of the Legion, did you have an overall plan for the series, or did each book evolve on its own?

Truth is, in the beginning I just wanted to write a satisfying, action-packed military science fiction book with memorable characters and a good story-line. That was Book one, Soldier of the Legion. Once I accomplished that, I thought 'but what happens next?' I found I couldn't stop writing, and I enjoyed taking my characters along on more adventures. I thought it would end with Book five, but no — there was more to say. That's when Curse of the Legion was born.

MilSciFi: Is there a planned end to the series? Or will it continue as long as the idea is there?

Book six, Curse of the Legion, is the final book of the series.

MilSciFi: Please tell us a little about your new publisher?

Ridan Publishing is just terrific. It was created last year by Robin Sullivan. She was tired of dealing with unresponsive publishers and decided to open her own publishing company. It is rapidly earning a good reputation with very high quality work, an unbelievably author-friendly contract, and a growing list of talented authors. I met Robin and her husband Michael on the SF convention circuit and signing on with them is the best move I've made in a long time. Michael is a fantasy writer who is also a very talented artist. He does the covers for the Legion series.

MilSciFi: Do events in the real world, past or present, inspire your writings?

Of course. I've always been interested in history, international affairs, and the rise and fall of civilizations. I was raised overseas and later worked overseas and have been exposed to a wide variety of peoples, viewpoints and experiences. My internationalist outlook was forged in a strong appreciation for my own country's history and culture.

MilSciFi: Do you have any other projects in the works?

I'm planning an anthology of the Legion series with character summaries and illustrations, galactic historical reviews, Legion training manuals, starcharts, ConFree and Systie handbooks and propaganda, science and weapons directories, etc. This should be of interest to readers who have enjoyed the series.

MilSciFi: Do you have any upcoming author events?

Yes, I'll be attending Ravencon in Richmond, Virginia April 9-11 2010, Balticon in Maryland on May 28 to 31 and FantaSci at the Chesapeake Library, Virginia on June 26.

MilSciFi: Do you have a website?

My website is www.soldierofthelegion.com .

MilSciFi: Thank you, for your time.

Thank you for the opportunity!