The beggining

[nadinbrzezinski]

This is the story to open the Future Nexus Core Book and yes will be posted soon on website and it is in somewhat of ciruculation already

The Beginning

Address by Professor Karl Miracheck,
National University
Mellencamp Government Lecture
June 20th, 3676

It is said that students of history may find patterns repeat in odd ways. Many Republics have failed across history. First Athens failed, then came Rome which also failed. For example we are told that Caesar betrayed the ideals of the Roman citizen favoring those who by right and birth should rule over rabble. Rome over extended itself, which led to its fall. After a long dark age the peoples of the West discovered once again the wonders of Greek and Roman Democracy and built nations based on them. We are the descendants of several of those peoples. In the end though, our Republic was dissolved by President Kean, who had the presence of mind to realize that some are destined to rule over others. The rabble, for it is a rabble, is not capable of knowing what is good and noble. The rabble only understands what it is told. This is the natural way, as our fathers finally understood. A government of the people and for the people is but a a dream, even if some dreamers, such as Senator Mellencamp, still whisper in our ears.


Metaphysical Society Secret Meeting
New Washington City
June 13th, 3486

“It is amazing that the Mellencamp Government Lecture was used for years to attack the Senator and his love of Democracy. Is it not?” John Bouchard looked up from his notes and turned his head from side to side. Most of the people in the small room nodded in silent agreement. They all clutched a copy of the Collected Writings of Senator Dana Mellencamp. They all knew the truth in the words and what was taken from them. People, it was rumored, elected their leaders at one time. Those leaders served the people and the people determined just how long they could remain in service with a quaint thing called a secret vote. None of this was done any longer, for the Corporate Dukes established the way all of them lived.
“All men are created equal and have inalienable rights, among them life, liberty and freedom.” A voice slowly rose from the back of the room, heads slowly turning and nodding at the newcomer. “One day this will once again be recognized, when the government of the people and for the people returns.”
“You are new among our gathering of patriots.” The leader of the group slowly said and walked towards the newcomer. The newcomer spoke the right worlds, but one had to be weary for the Ministry of Information always tried to infiltrate these meetings. If they did, a worst fate than death awaited them, for meeting in the dark like this was against Tashkeni Law and tradition. Talking a little Revolution was treason to the crown, and treason was at times met with death, not even bothering with an open court.
“Indeed I am, for today it is my time to join The Metaphysical Societies. Oh and you are very right Archon Bouchard, Senator Mellencamp has been attacked repeatedly by the Corporations that now rule our fates and lives, for his ideas were those of the people and the long dead Republic.” The voice was strangely assured and familiar, and as the man walked towards the light those in the gathering began to rustle and speak in hushed voices, while a man by the corner reached for his coat where a gun was hidden. “Please I am but one among many sent to this meeting by Master Archon Young. She promised a warn welcoming by all of you and she did warn me that some fear may accompany our first encounter.” The man slowly took out his wallet and took out a crisp twenty Tashkeni Dollar bill and threw it into the hat. He was now fully in the light, and Archon Bouchard started to drop on one knee, as the man who had entered the gathering was the First Prince of the Tashknei Empire, Malcolm Hess.
“Please, no need to do such. I come here as an equal, though my time here is limited. Sooner or later my security will realize I am missing.”
“But my liege, you know what goes on in these meetings.”
“Aye, and I also know why they happen. I agree with all of you, yet I am powerless to change much. One day the situation will allow me to change the conditions of our collective despair, but not today. To do such will take years and some luck.”Then he took out a tattered paper copy of an ancient document and placed it on the table. The men and women looked amazed at what he was putting on the table. “This is my family's copy. It shall pass to my son when he is old enough. For the moment, take it and make copies for all in this gathering and across the land. This ancient document is the guide that you have been searching for, and this is my gift.”
“Making copies will damage it.” Bouchard said in a low reverential voice.
“And not making copies will ensure that when it is gone, no more shall remain within reach. This is one of three in existence and the other two are forbidden to you, for you are not from the Noble Class or the Odinate. The Constitution shall now be taught once again in meetings such as this one, for it was never invalidated. You know this Archon, so make a copy, regardless of the damage to it and then a copy of the copy. Make sure that those copies are distributed far and wide. Use Dataterms, to spread them across using the underground channels. Make sure merchantmen take it across the Stars to Donegal and other worlds in the Empire.”
“Why my liege?” One of the women asked, her voice betraying surprise.
“My wife died at Donegal but twenty four hours ago. My son has been taken away by Security Agents, for his own safety of course. I know that she did not die at the hand of a Confed Sniper, regardless of what TNN will tell you. In time I shall have my revenge, but today is not that day. Today is not your day. Today we plan, and we teach. Someday, freedom will again reign in Tashkent, and hopefully it will be during our lifetimes. This pledge I make today, we will overcome someday, and I am one of many.”
“We are one of many.” The people in the room repeated, as it was customary in the heart of the Metaphysical Societies. The man took a seat at the back of the room, and slowly rubbed his temple. Today he took a step that could get him killed. He also took a step that the Council could see as treason and enough to remove him from the Throne. His years in the service of the Empire behind enemy lines were useful to escape notice from those who may try to follow. It was also useful that his friend Donovan Stark was in charge of Intelligence, for he was his first contact with the Societies. His security detail was chosen for their loyalty to him. He hoped they would overlook anything that in theory they should bring to the attention of any of the Corporate Dukes.
It was at that moment that the First Prince started to wonder how was it possible that he found himself here, among the rabble that the Council feared? He knew that his ascent to the throne was not the normal route. He was the Fifth Son of Jonathan Hess, and should have never inherited the throne. Indeed, nobody in the upper echelons of society expected him to do much more than manage the Hess Family Fortune and serve in the Military as an Imperial Officer. Indeed, if anybody took his military record and probed it, there was nothing unusual about his term of service. He made sure that it was sanitized after he took over the throne.
Malcolm Hess knew that there was a version of his Service Jacket available to very few people. This jacket detailed the exploits of Triang N'Yugen. That was the identity the people at MI-3 created for him while getting ready for operations deep behind enemy lines. It was the identity he used while living on Earth for five long years. He expected to remain under cover for as long as it took to discover the secrets of the Azawa Anti Grav unit. Most would never believed that he would volunteer for such a mission or that his father would approve it. The Hess Family never shirked from serving in the most dangerous of missions. His father Jonathan was a fighter pilot, in the Naval Service. His brothers and sisters served as well, but unlike other nobles they served along side Line Officers. His sister Jena died in a training accident, so they claimed. Of course father never believed it, but he could never prove it. When his two brothers, Yoshio and Victor, were killed in a car accident Jonathan had him recalled. His sister Andrea died in combat and Joseph was committed due to combat induced PTSD. He was still a patient at York Community, where he spoke of encounters with strange vessels at the Orion Sector.
Malcolm still remembered the first time he saw his father after coming home. He looked like a man destroyed. Malcolm did not understand, but his father only said one phrase before walking away from him. “Son, welcome to the big dance.” It was until today that Malcolm Hess learned truly what his father meant. He took the letter his father wrote him and started reading again.
If you are readying this things have gone terribly wrong in the Empire. There are forces that intend of centralizing power even further and away from the people and the Crown. They are against the people for the people are just pawns to them. We, the Hess Family, have always been protectors of the people, as we are sworn to be. Yet we do not hold a majority in the Council. What we hold with the Corporate Dukes, best case, is a truce.
Son, those who desire even more power also benefit from a state of constant war. They know that it is in war where their fortunes were made. You asked me once why is it that the Hess Family has always served in the front lines, while the sons and daughters of Dukes do not? We came from the people, and have always been of the people. They avoid the risks they ask others to take, because taking those risks may get them killed. Death is not conducive to the profit margin, and that is the way they think.
If you are readying this, it may be time to take the next step. You will have to be the judge of this. If this is the case you will take the Constitution that I have kept in my drawer, and give it to Master Archon Karl Young of the Metaphysical Society of New Washington. Incidentally that is not her real name, nor will you make an effort to find her true identity. She is a sister and as such she will protect you too. Yes my son, I am a tenth level member of the Societies that my Intelligence Service is supposed to destroy. Why do you think they are still around? You will join of course and Master Young will tell you who will be able to distribute this document among the people. In time, maybe by the time your son takes the throne Freedom will finally return to the people.
Tears rolled down the face of the young First Prince. He felt deeply the loss of his wife, but knew that this was a signal from the families. He continued the reforms his father started and he was next. Malcolm Hess realized that he would have to make many personal sacrificed to keep his son alive. If his son died, then the throne would leave the Hess Family for ever, and his father's dream would be dead.
“Are you okay?” Bouchard asked, while kneeling besides him.
“Aye, is the meeting over?”
“Yes, it is over. Here is your precious book, make sure it survives. Copies have been made and they shall be distributed. I am sorry for your loss Sir.”
Hess nodded, the man in front of him was far more caring than the Intel Officer that informed him, but six hours before. The officer told him, but did not bring in a Padre or try to care. He just told him, as he would have told any parent who lost a relative in combat. “I do know you from somewhere.” The man finally managed to say, trying to suppress the tears that were still rolling down his face.
“Indeed you do. Master Young sent you here for a reason, Commander N'Yugen.” The man smiled, “but our past is now well in our past and part of another live we chose to leave behind. You should go back to Master Young's meeting for she will train you in the ways of our societies. You should also forget how you got here. Even if you tried, this meeting is going underground.” The man smiled, and met the teary eyes of Malcolm Hess. “In fact chances are you will read of my demise by tomorrow morning, but things need to be done to keep the future, our future, safe.”
“You don't mean to die.”
“Oh no, it is just another life I am about to enter.” The man stood, “though you may need a tutor for your son. You may want to use some of the usual channels, if you should need a protector and a teacher. Welcome to the big dance , and your son, he is to young to learn how to dance. Yet he does need to live, we both know it.”