The Long View by F.M. Busby

Author:F.M. Busby [Busby, F.M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction
Published: 2021-03-10T00:00:00+00:00

Epilogue

Eighty years after Rissa Kerguelen was born ...

Aged eighty-three, Erika Hulzein signed documents merging the Hulzein Establishment with the corporate government of Earth. Before retiring, Prime Minister Kane Altworth of Australia announced that his country had voted to follow suit.

Rissa Kerguelen celebrated her twenty-eighth birthday, bio-time. On her eightieth by planetary time she gave birth to her parthenogenetic, gene-replicated daughter, Renalle.

Director of Relocation and Release Liesel Hulzein, aged seventy-two or thereabouts, reported that less than ten percent of North America's population remained in Welfare Centers – "but now we're scraping the bottom of the barrel."

Dr. Pennet Hoyfarul's ship Timejumper, commanded by Ilse Krueger and First Hat Ivan Marchant, returned to Earth. Passengers from the planet Number One included Ernol Lombuno and Sparline Moray. In the cargo were three zoom-wombs and three frozen zygotes, consigned to Bran Tregare Moray and Rissa Kerguelen.

Liesel Selene Moray, aged eight and a bit, wondered what it would be like to acquire three more siblings so quickly. She decided it would be a welcome change from studying the calculus.

The Hoyfarul ship Backspace Key brought news of the liberation of six more colonies, including Far Corner and the Twin Worlds, as well as several UET ships caught groundside.

Celie Brashean performed a recital of songs and poems – her own compositions – before an audience of eight thousand, with Tri-V coverage. At the end she received a standing ovation.

A third African spaceport was begun.

The Hoyfarul ship Leapfrog returned from Stronghold, under the command of Derek Limmer. Accompanying him were his wife Felcie, their son Arlen, and Arlen's two younger sisters. Limmer reported the capture of four visiting UET ships, as well as the expected fleets from Earth. Tregare checked his list against Backspace Key's and found less than a dozen colonies unaccounted for, and fifteen ships.

Limmer also reported meeting a Shrakken ship in space. "... just after we dropped below light. It's not the ship Stonzai had, but she's aboard. A chance rendezvous and she transferred in space, is my understanding."

Tregare sat up straight. "Coming here? What for?"

Limmer's scarred smile. "They're in trouble – under attack from down-Arm. An enemy that simply kills and won't parley. The Shrakken are holding pretty well but the attacks keep stepping up, a new wave every few years. Left on their own, eventually they'll go under."

Rissa Kergueien looked up from nursing her daughter Renalle. "We must help. We owe them that."

Tregare frowned, then nodded. "We shared our weapons; I guess we can share the Hoyfarul drive, too. I'll arrange to send a ship."

"Send? We will take it, Bran! Inconnu Deux has been tested and waiting for half a year." With its seven turrets – her design ... But our three zygotes must now wait longer to be born.

Tregare protested. "What about Renalle? Or Lisele, for that matter?"

"I?" said Liesel Selene. "Why, I shall tend Renalle while Rissa is busy in Control, just as I did on the shakedown cruise."

"And we do not go to fight, Bran – it is not like coming to Earth.

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