Earth: The Future is History (7 page)

Ayala: That I’m the best damn pilot you’re
going to find for this mission, sir!

Colonel Sterrow briefly smiles, but turns
serious again as the general stands up and walks towards Captain
Ayala.

General Beckett: Oh? And why is that
Captain?

Ayala: Respectfully, sir, they’ve been trying
to get me to crash for months. They threw everything possible at my
sim missions and failed. They had to implement the impossible to
finally get me to crash… Sir!

Colonel Sterrow: And that’s why she’s the
best. Although her ego could use some work… Captain Herut, meet
General Beckett. And now that the pleasantries are out of the way,
let’s sit down and have a chat.

Colonel Sterrow and General Beckett knew each
other for years, since they first enrolled in 2185 and they became
friends shortly after. Military etiquette was not a priority
between them.

General Beckett: Tell me, Captain Herut, do
you like history?

Ayala: No, sir.

General Beckett: Too bad, I’m going to ask
you anyway. Do you know what the military was like before? Before
we had space travel, before the World Alliance that you now serve
was formed?

Ayala: Well, sir, I know it was more…
strict.

General Beckett: And what has changed over
the years?

Ayala: The different branches merged into a
single entity under the full control of the W.A. There are no more
terrestrial troops. The Navy doesn’t exist. All we have is a few
ships in orbit around Earth and their personnel, sir.

General Beckett: And why do you think that
is, Captain?

Ayala: There was no need for them anymore,
sir. Almost all forces were disbanded or repurposed to aid civilian
efforts. A considerable portion of resources was redirected to
build the transit ships, to move Earth’s population to a new planet
– most military technology was cannibalized for this.

General Becket: And there we have it. The big
dilemma. Asha is our last chance for survival, but it’s inhabited
by a species we know nothing about. If they’re as advanced as the
initial reports suggested, they might not like us moving on their
planet. They might fight for it. And we don’t have the forces to do
anything about it. But, in the end, the matter is simple: we must
take that planet, no matter the cost. That’s why we’re sending you
there: assess their military power and their predisposition to
fight us so we can figure out what kind of preparations we need to
make, the amount of forces we need to train and the kind of
technology we need to develop.

Ayala: … Sir? I thought I was going there to
assess their level of development, to learn what kind of
civilization they are and if they are as advanced as we are, to
start looking for alternatives. From what you’re telling me, it
seems like an invasion is already planned…

General Beckett: Alternatives, Captain? We
have less than eighty years before Earth can’t sustain us anymore,
before humankind dies. We’ve sent thousands and thousands of probes
looking for alternatives and not a single one was found. Do you
want your grandchildren to live on Mars? With its week gravity and
week radiation shielding? It’s not a feasible long term solution.
The few resources we found on Jatko will soon run out and then
we’re truly out of alternative!

Ayala: What about Jatko, sir? Is it still
uninhabitable?

General Beckett: We conducted hundreds of
experiments and we just can’t kill the virus. It’s mutated so
severely after our last attempt to kill it, it now lives even under
the surface, in the soil. We can’t risk sending the entire
population there! We’ll keep trying, of course, but it looks like a
losing battle. So you see, Captain, one way or another, we’re going
to Asha! Or we all die trying.

Ayala: … You being here, sir – does it mean
my mission is starting?