The security forces quickly surround the escape pod. Security forces have around fifty men. Immediately they position ten snipers guarded by PL-4T3 shields and three ground shock troopers per sniper. The Principal's D0G-G0! units quickly respond by blocking the entrance. The Principal's own security forces surround the escape pod with guns drawn. Mac, Charlie, and Principal Alex stand at the entrance. Security general Jonathan is piloting a CR-UST mech suit armed with a Y3-45T grenade mortar. Jonathan yells in a megaphone “Principal Alexander Jason Steele you and all of your men are under arrest for violation of your sworn oath to uphold law and order. You are completely surrounded, out-gunned, and out-manned. You have no hope in wining this fight. Surrender peacefully or we will use force to detain you. Resist and we will kill.” Mac holds his loaded gun close to him. “Bold claims for someone who needs you alive,” Mac comments.
Alex takes out his tablet. He tunes into the Security Force's encrypted frequency. “The arrest will not be necessary Jonathan. I order you to stand down.” Jonathan responds, “no can do. This order comes directly from council. You're coming with me whether you want to or not.” Alex carefully chooses his words. “Jonathan, you are a reasonable man aren't ya? Council does know at any moment I can self-destruct the master code and force the station back into lock down. Neither council, you, or I want that. I will come peacefully.”
“Will you know?” Jonathan asks with his finger on the trigger.
Alex says “new information has come up in regards to the settlements of this planet. I'm positive you have seen the information yourself. /nasa/ is not the only space-fairing species on this planet. Therefore it is time to lift the lock downs.” Jonathan responds, “then you can do so with a gun to your head. Afterward you will be stripped of your position and left to council for judgment.” Alex takes out what appears to be a small hard drive. “Then you leave me no choice but to destroy the master code. If this is council's absolute orders then I see no reason to return the station to them.”
“I believe that won't be necessary principal.”
Another voice has entered the frequency. It is an old-fashioned man with a clear voice. “Senator Rodney?” Mac asks. “What's he doing on the radio.” The senator clears his throat. “I was hoping to catch you two before you got into a firefight. After hearing about the space-fairing species on /nasa/ the Senate, myself included, has come together to ask for a compromise on the grand directive and lock downs.” Jonathan leans back. “I'm afraid the council's orders are absolute and override the senate's suggestions.” “Come now Jonathan,” Rodney reassures him. “Before the student riots we were all doing well for ourselves when the lock downs started. Many of us enjoyed our freedom away from the network and we made ourselves new careers. If we have to lose the station then we will survive. We are humans. And we became a space-fairing species to survive the decaying Earth. And you know yourself that the riots are done by a fringe minority that never knew that freedom themselves. Not after /nasa/'s new AI social credit score moderation tools. Even now the riots have slowly died down as the students discovered freedoms for themselves.” Jonathan clears his throat. “Nevertheless, the lock downs have nearly destroyed what little /nasa/'s production has left. We will have to destroy a lot of crops as they're too old for processing. Many machines have been damaged by the sudden shut down, both mechanical and computers. The Principal is not getting off Scott-free for his actions. And the council have already decided the Principal will answer for his crimes.” Rodney responds, “backing the Principal in the corner who has the master code is a very bad idea. If he's willing to lift the lock down willingly then there's no reason for his arrest.” There's a bit of static on the radio. Another voice speaks on the radio. This time its an elderly woman. “Change of plans Security General.”
“Councilor Judith?” Jonathan is surprised. Judith continues, “the arrest is only necessary if the Principal is unwilling to comply with lifting the lock downs. If he is willing to lift the lock downs then there is no need to arrest him. That said Council has a new order. Council demands the principal to be under watch by the Security Forces until he inserts the master code. As for you Principal, once the station is back in order you are summoned for a hearing by the council and senate effective immediately. Do not delay or you will be arrested.” Alex responds, “understood councilor.” Mac looks at the Principal. “So what do we do now?” he asks. Alex orders his security to stand down. “I will return to the station. As I said, I will lift the lock down.” Senator Rodney then says, “before you return to the station principal I would like to talk to you personally about a few things, if security doesn't mind.” Jonathan groans. “For now we will cooperate with the principal. If you step out of line or try to flee then I will hunt you down myself.” “Excellent,” says Rodney. “I want to meet you, Principal, at this new cafe place outside the station. Mik's Place, I think it's called.” Charlie chuckles. “That's where Mac and I were before we came here.” Mac shushes Charlie. Alex replies, “I will see you there.” Alex takes a deep breath. Mac shrugs. “Imagine if you didn't have the Senate on your side.” Alex heads to the back of the pod to put his spacesuit on. “I would like to ask you two to come with me. Your can explain your report to the senator.” Charlie grabs his gut. “Only if I can get more bread and beer!” Charlie whispers to Alex, “and maybe a girl or two eh?” Mac grabs Charlie. “Oi! You shouldn't be askin' that while security's on the line.” “Bah! You're no fun!” Charlie curses and folds his arms. “Yeah, Charlie and I will go with you,” Mac affirms. Alex checks his tablet. “We're going to be escorted by security,” he says. “So try not to make funny business.” “Noted,” Mac confirms. Once Alex is suited up he tells his private security to stand down. The security steps aside to let Principal Alex, Mac, and Charlie through. Security meets the trio half-way. One of the security troops push Charlie with the butt of his rifle. “Oi! Watch it!” Charlie yells. The guard yells “move it civilian!” The Principal and his crew are escorted to Mik's Place where Senator Rodney awaits.
t is a brutal march on the way back to camp. Jonathan made everyone march double time, especially the principal. It is late dusk by the time everyone arrives. At first everyone in camp grabs their guns. Then Principal Alex tells everyone to stand down. The campers put down their arms Then they return to business. Mik's Place right now is a pair of escape pods conjoined together by a single air-tight plastic bubble housing the tables. Charlie and Mac stop to catch their breath. “Sana banana...” Charlie huffs. “I thought they said we weren't being detained.” Mac takes a drink of his canteen inside his suit. “Johnny boy had to punish us one way or another,” says Mac. One of the troopers hands Mac his bag full of goodies from around the world. “I grabbed this for ya,” says the trooper holding the bag. “Thanks mate. I owe ya!” Mac grabs the bag and swings it around his back. Mikeal unlocks the door to one of the escape pods. “Right, I have no idea why you need my cafe after dark, but its open. You'll have to keep your suits on. Can't turn on the heater without sun.” A man without his helmet approaches Alex. He's escorted by a lovely brown-skinned woman with interesting blood-red tattoos wearing a down jacket and snow pants. The man without his helmet on is a middle-aged man with white hair and blue eyes. The man has a metallic blood-red tattoo going up his ears and around his neck. If Mac could he would rub his eyes. “You got a death wish old man!?” Mac asks. The man takes a big sniff. He then hawks a loogie at the ground. “Beautiful innit!?” The man laughs. “I say the chuubanite tattoo experiment is a success.” Charlie looks at Mac. “I give him five more minutes before we administer the antihistamine,” says Charlie. The man rubs his neck. “I've had my helmet off all the way here. I'm not dead yet.” Mikael opens the door and says “Senator Rodney Pickams. We've been expecting you. I have the tables set up for our five guests. Come in.” Senator Rodney enters with his guest native. Mac and Principal Alex soon follow after him. Charlie enters but Mikael steps in front of him. “Sorry, Charlie. Its top secret.” “Wot!?” asks a frustrated Charlie. “What'dya mean I can't go in!?” Security General Jonathan enters the pod next. Mik sighs. “Rodney's request,” he says. “Also there's a couple of girls looking for you at camp.” Charlie perks up and asks “really now?” Mikael checks his helmet and says “I'm told to head to camp to grab dinner. Also there's a couple of things I need to ask you about.” Charlie clears his throat. “Alright now. I suppose we can chat if I don't get too distracted.” As security surrounds the cafe Charlie and Mikael head to camp.
Once inside the cafe Mac, Alex, and Jonathan take off their helmets. Everyone takes a seat in the center table where there is a small battery powered heater. On the table there is a pot of coffee with ceramic mugs. Mac and the priestess serve themselves some coffee. Rodney begins the conversation. “Principal you may be comfortable with lifting the lock downs with new evidence. However compromising Grand Directive was never for you to decide.” Alex raises his eyebrow. “Has council made their decision already?” Rodney rests his elbows on the table. “Fortunately no. Actually what happened is Mac's evidence divided the council.” Mac rubs the back of his neck and asks “divide the council? What'dya mean?” Rodney straightens himself out then says “it means we have an advantage to reverse the council's decision. There are space-fairing aliens on this planet who are not bound to the Grand Directive like we are.” Alex shakes his head. Then he says “common sense would dictate the aliens wouldn't arm its native allies with their best weapons. Its the same with us. There's a controversy with hoomans of the republic getting close to /nasa/. We have even caught a few of them taking more notes than they should of our technologies. And if we arm our native allies with our weapons then the aliens will eventually see us as a threat that needs to be eradicated. /nasa/ is in no position to start any war. Especially now that we're cut off from all support in Starfleet.” Jonathan pours himself a cup of coffee. Then he asks “so you propose that we still enforce the Grand Directive regardless?” Alex pours himself some coffee. “I am aware that the Grand Directive is a guideline. It does not and cannot guarantee we will always have support from Starfleet. There are many clauses and exceptions within the directive that allows the stations to break the directive. I am aware we are in that situation after losing all of our factories.” Alex takes a sip. “However, this is not an underdeveloped world. We cannot simply go in and strip mine the materials we need to rebuild the station. The technology of this world is the equivalent to that of the late 1700s on Earth with fully developed nations. While /nasa/ has many defenses against lose asteroids and primitive weapons we would still have to fight organized armies and navies if we were to take resources. Also the natives are more than capable of using /nasa/'s own weapons against us given enough time and training.” Mac sips his coffee. Then he says “yeah but we can't just sit here and wait for them to build rockets.” Rodney puts his coffee mug down and says “before the council's decision I was working with our local Sanalite merchants to establish trade deals with neighboring countries. Outside of capital /nasa/'s biggest profit is processed food and rations. We've made a few tons of gold selling off our nearly expired rations to /who/, KFP, and /morig/. I've also received letters that they loved our rations at sea and demand more of them.” Jonathan interrupts “the problem with selling off our rations is that we did so because of the abundant stockpile. Now that food processing in the station has slowed down our production of rations have declined. It declined so much that we are forced to destroy perfectly good crops that can't be processed in time.” Mac chuckles. Then he says “at least the food is edible now. We no longer have to eat fifty year-old MREs.” Jonathan interrupts again. “That doesn't matter. Council sees this decision as the principal sabotaging production of necessities in order to create a crisis to force them to compromise on the directive.” Alex looks at Jonathan. “So it looks like no matter what I argue, my exile is inevitable.” Rodney pours himself some coffee. “I brought my new friend to talk to you about that.”
Alex looks at the brown-skinned woman with the tribal tattoos. “I've heard we found a woman frozen to death, but she somehow recovered.” Rodney explains. “She's one of the natives from the south east beyond the Holo gulf. She came here on an expedition with mercenaries to see what happened. However she got separated by the schizos and wound up lost in the cold.” The woman begins speaking in an unfamiliar language. It sounds ancient and exotic. Rodney looks at his tablet. “She says she has no memory of the attack nor of the days before she was frozen. We did confirm her freezing caused memory loss. Fortunately she has most of her memories. Including how to create chuubanite circuit tattoos.” “I see,” says Alex as he leans back in his chair. Mac looks at Rodney's neck and says “so that's why you can take your helmet off now.” Rodney says “the tattoos are temporary. They will need to be re-applied or replenished once every two years or so. Possibly less depending on the severity of the activation. For now we created a circuit that activates by breathing. I can't really explain the process. But it seems to reset our allergies to dust and dirt. And perhaps in about five or so years we can survive without the tattoos.” Alex rubs his temples. “So with this procedure... If I get exiled and lose my suit then this will allow me to survive as long as I can replenish the circuit.” Rodney says, “you'll have to talk to the doctors for specifics. It is also an experimental procedure. Meaning there's no idea how your body is going to work with it.” “I understand,” says Alex as he sips his now cold coffee. “But enough about my suitability what are the senate's standing on this case?”
“Its a dilemma,” Rodney says. “On one hand many of the senators still side with council's decision to roll out a social credit style system to monitor Sanalites. On the other hand those senators has lost support from their departments now that everyone's had a taste of the offline life.” Mac folds his arms. He asks “didn't we have physical money at some point or another? What happened to that? It'd be perfect for a time like this.” Rodney shrugs and says “that was Starfleet's decision to abolish physical money in the galaxy. Fuel credits should be exclusive to those within Starfleet.” Alex interrupts. “Lets not forget the inaccurate accounting records of Starfleet once a cashless society has been established.” Jonathan sips his coffee. “Still, what's stopping us from creating our own local currency for this planet besides council?” Mac chugs the rest of his now cold coffee. “Hell what's stopping us from doing anything Starfleet doesn't like? I joked with Charlie about shagging some squirrel girls on our voyage and nobody would know. We have no satellites to spy on us. We have no global communications network. We're pre-radio. Even in the radio days people still had some goddamn privacy.” “If we want to,” Rodney raises his mug, “we can do whatever we want in this dimension and Starfleet will never know.” A sixth person enters the tent escorted by security. Jonathan stands up. “Who is this? And what's the meaning for the intrusion?” The woman removes her helmet. It is an elderly woman wrinkled from brow to chin. She has frail grey hair and one baby blue eye. The other eye is covered by a prosthetic eye patch with a red glowing dot in the middle. “Councilor Judith?” Jonathan asks in surprise. Judith looks around. She says, “you seem to have made yourselves comfortable. There's a rumor going around that you three are plotting to take over the station.” Alex clears his throat. Then he says “yes! Well... Fortunately for /nasa/ that rumor is false. We're just a couple of old friends having some coffee.” Mac picks up the now empty coffee pot. “Sadly we're out.” Judith smirks. She takes out a small pack of coffee from her satchel. “That's fine,” she says. “I brought my own. Without sunlight we'll have to stick with cold brew if that's fine. Mind if I have a seat?” Jonathan pulls a chair next to the native. “Sure,” he says. Judith takes the coffee pot and puts her coffee inside. Then she fills the water with now ice-cold water. The water soon turns black as the coffee steeps. Judith sits down by the priestess. She speaks in her tablet. “You'll have to wait about ten minutes for the brew to finish.” Judith shows the tablet to the native. It roughly translates her words into the native's written script. The priestess understands and sits back.
Judith presses her fingertips together. She says “council is considering subjecting all Sanalites to behavioral evaluations via an artificial intelligence scoring system.” Rodney almost stands up. “Social credit scores!?” Rodney yells. Alex murmurs “those worked so well in the twenty-first century.” Mac looks at Alex and asks, “wasn't the twenty-first century when all of the civilizations in the northern hemisphere were nuked.” Alex looks back at Mac. “Elysium ruled Earth for nearly a century until they became gluttonous useless eaters . Then they purged the useful in a purity spiral. The purged escaped to Earth where they helped rebuild civilization. Elysium tried to stop civilization with rods of god. However the purged built their bases near the world's untapped resources. Elysium had to stop bombarding the planet or else risk destroying resources they need.” Mac, rubs his neck then says “alright. So if we establish social credit in /nasa/ then we'll be purged like the earthbound and forced to live without the station. Sounds fine if it didn't mean losing our implants and space suits. And losing our air filters in our space suits means death.” Judith pours herself and the priestess some cold brew coffee. She takes a sip then says “we are aware of what social credit leads to. We are also aware that we lack the support from both Sanalites and Security Forces to enforce it. However social credit is not council's decision.” “What do you mean?” asks Mac. Judith answers: “The order to enforce social credit came from Starfleet directly.” Rodney hmms for a moment. “So if council does not enforce a social credit program then council will have gone rogue. Meaning Starfleet will certainly nuke our station from orbit if they found out.” Judith puts her cup of coffee down. She says “we also have to factor in that three of our five council members are members of S.T.A.B.L.E. They want social credit systems as it allows them to enforce their ideologies with AI algorithms. While two of the council members disagree with the decision, the majority still rules.” Jonathan rubs his temples. “The Security Forces already lives under a similar system. While on duty we are monitored at all times. With social credit we'll be monitored off duty as well.” Mac looks at Jonathan and says, “the only reason you're here now is because the systems are offline.” “Jonathan says, “yes. While the systems are online in the station council monitors our every move. They want to expand that system to all Sanalites. Not just council.” Rodney looks at the priestess for a moment. Then he says “well the senate, who is voted in by the station's inhabitants, has a solution to fight against Starfleet's tyranny.”
Judith looks Rodney in the eye. Then she asks “is the senate considering the Home World clause?”
Rodney nods. “/nasa/ is very old-fashioned. The reason why /nasa/ was one of the most successful stations in the fleet is because we valued our privacy, anonymity, and autonomy. We may not be the wealthiest station, but we are self-sufficient. Even without our factories we lasted as long as we did because we followed Sana's words. She says 'always take care of yourselves first'. That's why we survived the darkest winter. If Starfleet is taking away /nasa/'s ability to take care of ourselves then they are against what Sana is.” Rodney sits up. “Mozzies claim Sana is a false god and that she never cared for any of us. And that Sana hates broadcasting because she lies about her immortality. S.T.A.B.L.E wants to control Sanalite's speech and behaviors for themselves in the name of Sana. This gives Mozzies exactly what they want because if you want to fight Starfleet then you must forsake Sana.” Jonathan sits up and asks “so what are you proposing senator?” “The senate is proposing /nasa/'s independence from Starfleet to worship Sana ourselves however we want privately and anonymously.” Jonathan then asks “and you believe this is what the people of /nasa/ wants?” Rodney takes out his tablet, “we've conducted a survey. While we have lost our factories and cannot make modern weapons we do have something Starfleet does not. And that is vitubium.” “You mean that mysterious substance in the meteorite that crash landed?” Mac asks. “Yes, and its not just in the meteorite. Vitubium is found underground in this world. Nay, it is found throughout the entire solar system. We used chuubanite to create nuclear rockets that bounced the station up properly for a proper landing. The vitubium in meteorites here seem to have gravity manipulating properties.” “Bullshit!” Mac says. “Even I know gravity manipulation goes against the laws of physics.” Rodney continues. “Its merely an observation. We still need to study vitubium to understand what it does. So far vitubium has the unique property to bond with matter and store energy. With enough vitubium we can replace fossil fuels for manufacturing. This gives us an advantage at rebuilding factories that would have taken two-hundred years to develop. With enough vitubium /nasa/ can become a super-power that can eventually overtake Starfleet.” Jonathan stands up and says “you say this in front of a council member?” Rodney stands up. “Jonathan! Are you a man or a mouse. You've seen how constant monitoring has demoralized your men. Security Force enrollment is at an all-time low. Sanalites would rather arm themselves and handle crime themselves than ask security for aid. If you side with council you need to understand that over half of /nasa/ will turn against you and your men.”
“Is that a threat senator!?” Jonathan asks with his hand on his belt.
Alex stands up. “That is enough! Both of you sit down! There will not be any duels as long as I am principal of this station. I will speak with the council and senate tomorrow after I lift the technology lock down. That is my decision. First we have to listen to what council has to say. Then the senate can choose whether or not to vote on a home world directive.” Rodney and Jonathan sits back down. Mac says “giving everyone a fair hearing is going to be your downfall Alex.” Alex says “perhaps. Nevertheless everyone's voices should be heard regardless if they are Mozzies, S.T.A.B.L.E, or schizos. We cannot let bad ideas go unchallenged or else the consequences will lead to people getting hurt.” Judith clears her throat and says, “just like how the lock down crippled /nasa/'s economy. That was a bad idea principal. Council will see this act as treason and call for your impeachment and exile.” Principal Alex grabs his helmet. Then he says “the same can be said for you councilor visiting the traitor and his friends conspiring to overtake the station.” Judith is offended. “I have done no such conspiring,” Judith says. “That was between the senator and you. I simply explained to you council's orders. And you know what will happen if you refuse a direct order from Starfleet.” Alex puts on his helmet. “I am well aware. It is time for me to return to the station.” Jonathan stands up. “It is my duty to escort you to the station.” Jonathan grabs his helmet. Rodney stands up. Then he says “I will need to gather the senate for the hearing.” The priestess stands up. She speaks to Rodney. He then looks at his tablet to read the translation. “Well your input while small was valuable. It also did both of us good to get some fresh air.” Judith asks Rodney. “Is she going to be a liability?” Rodney shakes his head. “Nah, but she is watching over me in case the tattoos fail.” Judith stands up and says “I see.” Mac gets up. “Well I better check up on Charlie,” he says. “He better not be having too much fun.” As Alex, Rodney, Jonathan, and Judith are escorted back to the station Mac returns to the camp.