Mission Year 2135
In stark contrast to the other faction leaders, not to mention the pompous government officials on Earth, the Gaian Council did not care much for ceremonies or formalities. Their meetings were casual affairs, taking place whenever it was deemed appropriate. The Council as such did not even have its own meeting chambers - today, they had assembled in one of the domed gardens along the shore of Gaia's Landing, just as much to decide upon matters of strategy and general policy as to enjoy the surroundings and the spectacular view. The next time they met, it would most likely be somewhere else entirely.
The only member of the group who stood out by not being seated or visibly relaxed was Major Amanda Windsong. Standing straight in her always so meticulously kept uniform, she was definitely the strongest proponent of discipline in the colonies, a remnant from her service in the Unity Security Forces. Together with her generally stern demeanor, this quality had quickly earned her the nickname Major Buzzkill, and had further generated a whole set of rumours of how she harboured totalitarian, big-government, fascisto-Spartan sympathies. At present, she was reading out the report from the recent debacle at
Greenhouse Gate, where antagonised Mind Worms had overwhelmed and destroyed both a scout patrol and an entire terraforming detachment.
''...which brings the total numbers to three hundred and twenty-seven confirmed dead, forty-five wounded and twelve still missing.'
'Thank you Major. And the terraforming transport?' asked Deirdre Skye, seemingly taking the casualties with ease.
'Regretably lost as well, Lady. By the time we would reach it, the Mind Worms would have chewed through it completely, wrecking every critical system inside.'
'Industrious little fellows' Deirdre said musingly. 'Well, make sure to recycle whatever is left behind. Where are we with the precautionary measures?'
'It is all proceeding according to plan, Lady Skye. Ever since the breakthrough in the study of human self-awareness, the Garden Sentinels have made rapid progress. Most Gaians lack the proper aptitude for Empath training, of course, but the Sentinels have found ways to bestow a trance-like state upon practically any willing subject, effectively shielding them from all but the very strongest of mind-warping attacks.'
'And they can still function normally?' Deirdre asked quizzically.
"Very much so!' Major Scott interjected. 'It is not some drone-like state, like from nerve-stapling or what have you! It's comforting, warming. Quite mellow, really!'
'Ehr, yes, quite', Windsong continued. 'With the resources from the Peacekeepers, we should be able to upgrade all of our obsolete battalions to incorporate trance-capabilities within the year. Of course, the greatest benefit has been the new understanding of how the animals communicate psionically throughout the ecosystems. We now have several Empaths capable of taming and controlling the Mind Worms, using and overriding the techniques observed within the Xenofungus itself. Also, as of last week, one new Broodmaster is commanding a second boil in the western lands. It is not as large as the one controlled by Starshine, but given time, this one, too, will become considerable.'
'And what of the breeding project?' Deirdre continued.
'No problems on that front either!' Scott replied. 'Within a few years, our Garden Sentinels and trance-shielded troops may not even be needed as escorts outside of the bases anymore - we will have plenty of Broodmasters by then, using both the domesticated and lab-bred worms to aid the colonies. The incident at Greenhouse Gate was unfortunate, but really, Lady, I doubt we will ever see another one.'
'Very good, Major Scott. For now, I believe we should keep this knowledge secret from the others. After all, it would not do to have potential enemies of Planet figure out how to resist its strongest weapon. Do not share it with the Peacekeepers or the Lord's Believers, and especially not with the Human Hive.'
'Oh, the Hive!' Councilor Amiga Haze said, snapping out of his usual daydreaming. 'Why, their ambassador just asked again for the communication protocols for the Spartans. What should I tell him?'
'Just keep denying we have it' Deirdre said resolutely. 'Santiago is no threat for now. As Pravin's maps have showed us, there is an entire ocean between our territories. Still, Yang would definitely trade with them, perhaps even going so far as to sell them our very own research data, and as long as the Spartans mean us harm, that is simply unacceptable.'
'Understood Lady Skye. Is there anything else?'
'Only this' Deirdre replied with a smile. 'Get in touch with the Believers, and make sure to offer them our new synthmetal and transport foil designs. If we are lucky, they might just build a small fleet and attack Sparta Command. With Godwinson's crusader armies wreaking havoc on their doorstep, an invasion of our peaceful gardens will be the last thing on their mind.'