Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 1

To say that Ainsley van den Favel was aggravated is putting it mildly - he was fucking furious. He'd kept his temper in check for two weeks while his failed force fled Australia and returned to WestProtect's ranch in Arizona. Frank Clappers, the leader of that force, was one of the last to arrive because he ensured the others made good their escape. It was Frank Clapper's head that Ainsley so passionately wanted to rip from his body and toss into the furnace to leave a shiny white skull he could admire on his desk.

"Jesus wept, Frank! What a total effing cock-up!" Ainsley growled low in his throat. "How could you be so fucking wrong?"

Frank took a breath. He'd arrived at the ranch late the previous afternoon and hadn't got a lot of sleep after, first checking on his men and then sitting with Marsh Bellamy and Brogan McDonnell, who were involved in the failed operation. He rubbed a hand over his face before looking Ainsley in the eye. "I know you're pissed, Ainsley..".

He didn't get a chance to continue. "Pissed?" cried Ainsley, "Pissed?" He shook his head and grimaced. "I'm not fucking pissed, Frank, I'm… I'm… I could kill you! Right now, with my bare hands, I could kill you!" He shook his head, body shivering with tension. "I am pissed, Frank! Really pissed." His body relaxed with the last word, and his head bowed. After a few seconds, he looked up. "What happened, Frank?" He shrugged. "Why are we in this mess?"

Frank had spent the best part of two weeks preparing for this moment and decided on the simple truth. He looked at Ainsley, lips compressed, eyes thoughtful. "They have made their technology operational." He swallowed and shrugged. "They used the tech to evacuate the site." His gaze hardened. "It's the only scenario that fits."

Ainsley felt his anger returning. "You're telling me they got out of a contained area, under your noses?" He sneered. "Just how did they do that? Magic capes?" His chin jutted a fraction. "And, where did they go?"

Frank cocked his head. He understood Ainsley's frustration and had prepared himself. He shook his head, a small smile pulled at the corners of his mouth. "No magic capes or carpets." The smile faded, and his look became more thoughtful. "We thought the technology we were after was in the early stages of discovery and development. A technology to send something like a camera instantly somewhere else on the planet." He looked around at the others in the room to bring them into the confrontation with Ainsley and get Ainsley's focus on a bigger picture than Frank Clappers. "The only explanation is the technology has been refined. It can transport more than just a camera. It can transport a man or many men." He sent a frown Ainsley's way. "I don't know where they went, but they didn't use magic. Their Step technology took them out from under our noses." He considered his next words. "Given the timing, they only finished developing the technology the day or two before the raid. Or," he paused to make sure he had everyone's attention before directing his gaze back to Ainsley. "Or, they only found where they would go in the last few days and had the technology for some time before that."

Ainsley frowned. "Where they would go. What are you thinking?"

Frank gave his head a shake. "The place was clean! They hadn't had to hurry to get things together. They had time to organise their departure." He glanced at Emanuel Thorpe. "The only situation that fits is they had been waiting to find a new place to carry on their work."

Nobody said anything as they processed Frank's thinking. Robert Hickey-Roche was the first to speak. "What are the chances this new place isn't on Earth?"

Frank frowned. "What do you mean?"

Roche's brow furrowed as he tried to remember details. "Before we were involved, Harper Caldwell had someone check out the original research he let slip from AI4U." He nodded to himself. "The investigation included a recording of one of the original tests that ended up in Canada." He looked up and saw the puzzled faces looking back. "The testing used simple puffs of air to move their test module operating this Step technology." He cocked his head. "What if they used a rocket engine? If they can move from Sydney to Canada with a puff of air, they could get to the other side of the universe with a big enough engine." He looked at Frank. "What if the waiting was to find or clear another planet? If they can Step beyond Earth, why go somewhere on Earth where we've got a good chance of finding them?" He shrugged. "If it were me, I'd go where no one else can get to!"

Frank's face cracked into a smile. "Another planet! That makes sense. I think you're onto something, Roche." He looked at Ainsley, who still looked unsure. "It fits. They have developed their technology to the level where it can move larger objects like people. Assuming there are other habitable planets, they've found one!"

Ainsley felt the truth gradually take root. He shook his head when he realised Frank wasn't at fault for the failed raid. Nobody could have prepared for the target simply disappearing to another location, even another planet. He looked at Frank and sighed, dropping his head in apology for getting so worked up.

Frank smiled and shrugged in acceptance. "So, what do we do? We can't follow them, even if we knew where they were."

Roche caught Ainsley's eye. "Given that the whole thing started in Australia and, as far as we know, hasn't involved anyone offshore, I suggest we go back to ground zero and trace every detail, movement, contact, anything. There must be a loose end somewhere."

Ainsley nodded. "Emanuel, I want you to do the same, both in Australia and offshore, if necessary." He looked at Roche. "Share what you find with each other. You've got different assets and different ways of operating." He turned to Frank. "Frank, you do the same. Get Marsh and Brogan onto it as well; Three teams are better than one, and, who knows, trash for one may be treasure for the other."

Ainsley took a breath, a determined look on his face. At least he was doing something solid after the last failure. "I'll do what I can through WestProtect. Maybe someone knows something or has a contact who might." He looked at the men before him. "Another planet. The stakes are higher than we ever imagined; We must get hold of that technology."

Roche nodded. "We'll find something somewhere. I'm sure of it!" He paused in thought. "I'll make sure Harper Caldwell puts all his focus on cracking the remnants of the technology we do have. He and his team are trying to work it out, albeit without success."

Ainsley grimaced at Roche's suggestion but agreed with him. "It'll be a long time coming if we have to invent our own; better that than nothing at all." He grunted. "Let's do it the easy way if we can." He looked at his team. "Get that information!" He paused and checked his calendar. "Let's get back together in three months if nothing comes up beforehand. Perhaps we'll need to review our strategy."

Chapter 2

Avani Campbell's brows furrowed, her anger simmering beneath the surface. "But it's a sound policy! The very one you championed during your tenure."

Euan Smart shook his head. "That was then - this is now. We will not support the plan."

Avani sighed. There was no point in arguing with him, but she gave it one more shot. "Euan, you know it's good. It'll help drag those families out of poverty through their children's education. It's a long-term win—a win for all of us."

Euan shrugged, his face devoid of emotion. "Avani, you're hanging onto power by your fingernails. We will not do anything that will help you get a third term." His lips curled into a smile bordering on a sneer. "Perhaps your successor will support something similar when I'm in office. What do you think?"

Avani shook her head and looked her opponent in the eye. She had nothing more to say.

***

Double Dissolution?

The Campbell government was dealt a blow in the House with the failure of their landmark Housing Bill late this afternoon. Leader of the opposition, Euan Smart, smiled as he answered questions after the vote. "The Campbell Government is in tatters. They have lost the support of the people of Australia and should call for an early election as soon as tonight." He grinned broadly, teeth shining in the lights. Let Australians vote them out!"

When questioned about the legislation, Smart's gaze intensified as he looked into the camera. "Australia is grappling with numerous pressing issues that demand immediate attention. It is infuriating that this negligent government is squandering hard-earned funds in an attempt to deceive 'socially disadvantaged' Australians." He sneered at the camera. "These people need a robust economy generating jobs, not another futile handout!"

Avani Campbell was not available for comment at this time. However, a spokesperson gave us this statement. "The government is, obviously, disappointed with this result. The Prime Minister is talking with the crossbench to determine what has changed since they agreed to include the amendments linking rent increases to inflation. The Prime Minister does not foresee a double dissolution of Parliament, nor will she call an early election."

***

Avani thanked the driver as he stopped in front of The Lodge. Zackary Hurst, her husband, smiled as he opened the door and helped her get out of the car. "It's just us, Vani. Apart from the perimeter, we're as alone as can be in this place."

Avani watched the car leave and the gate close. She sighed in relief and sagged into Zack's arms.

Zack frowned in worry as he sensed his wife's tiredness. "Let's get you inside so you can relax a little," he said.

Avani's eyes tightened but slowly relaxed. She smiled tiredly and nodded. She wrapped an arm around Zack's waist as they walked under the arch and through the glass-panelled front door.

Once inside, Avani kicked off her shoes; Zack lent a hand as she shrugged off her jacket. He pointed towards the back of the home. "I've set something to drink out in the garden. It's nice and quiet, apart from the maggies and an occasional peep from the fairy-wrens."

Avani smiled and grabbed her husband in a fierce hug. "I love you, Zack." She looked into his grey eyes and saw her love reflected in their light and his smile. She kissed him soundly before they made their way into the garden.

Zack played host and, when Avani was settled, asked, "What would you like? I have G and T, iced tea, apple juice fresh from the orchard, a nice red or simple water."

Avani chuckled at the accompanying theatrics. "Apple juice sounds nice." Her face mirrored the mix of emotions and stresses she was experiencing. "Perhaps a gin after we talk."

Zack poured apple juice into a tall glass for Avani and a glass of red wine for himself. He sat and waited as Avani sipped the juice and considered the best place to start talking.

She put the glass onto the table and looked Zack in the eye; her face mirrored her internal frustration at failure. "I'm considering stepping down as PM."

Zack's brows raised, and his head cocked. He knew Avani well enough to remain silent.

Avani took another sip of the juice and rolled the flavour around her mouth with her tongue as though tasting her words. She frowned and shook her head. "I can't make any headway." She looked at Zack. "It's been nearly five years, and I've not achieved one of the key goals I set out when I was first elected Prime Minister." She sighed. "Not a one."

Zack remained connected to her eyes as he reached for his glass, sniffed the wine's bouquet, and enjoyed a good taste of the shiraz before placing the glass back onto the table. He waited.

Avani sighed and shook her head. "Euan Smart's not going to change the opposition's 'No to Everything' strategy - regardless of a policy's benefits to Australia." Her eyes drifted to a magpie pecking at the lawn. "We're spending billions on bullets and can't scrape a few coins together to feed hungry kids or give them a decent education." She shook her head as she turned back to Zack and glowered. "It's so stupid!" Her gaze sharpened. "And they all know it! They're too damned stuck in fear of losing their power to do anything!"

Zack took another sip of wine and licked his lips in appreciation.

Avani watched Zack enjoy his wine. She shook her head and turned her eyes back to the magpie, which had moved on a few metres. She followed it as it launched into the air and flew off to a nearby gum tree. "I've had representations from the embassies of both America and China wanting high-level defence talks again. This, on top of the meetings we had in Thailand." She rolled her shoulders to release some of her tension. "We're a bloody bit player in all their shenanigans. They use their size, history, fear and propaganda to play us like a piece on a bloody game board!" She frowned at the magpie, which, with perfect timing, pealed a single note and flew off, presumably to greener pastures.

Avani shook her head in disgust and picked up her juice. She had a long drink and looked at her husband. "What do you think?"

Zack looked at her, a crooked smile on his face. "About stepping down?" He grinned mischievously and raised his brows. "I think it's a grand idea."

"I'm not joking, Zack! I'm not sure I can keep banging my head against this brick wall." She looked at her husband, mouth and eyes sad, "I'm tired, Zack! Tired of the failures; tired of the media; tired of the opposition; tired of wars and agendas and submarines and hate." She shook her head. "Mostly, I'm tired of the hate." She looked again at Zack. "What happened to the idea of talking about issues and listening? What happened to a 'fair go'?" She looked back to where the magpie had been on the grass. "Now, people have an opinion and hate anyone who disagrees!" She snorted as she realised she was generalising. "I know I'm generalising."

Avani's head drooped, and she was silent for a few seconds before rubbing her eyes and looking at Zack. "I'm tired, Zack."

Zack nodded, his face a mixture of love, concern and admiration. "Red?"

Avani's face relaxed, and she smiled. "Yes. That would be nice."

Zack stood and poured a red wine for Avani. As he put the glass onto the table, he squeezed her shoulder. "Remember when you were first asked about representing your electorate?" Avani's lips pulled up at the edges into a tight smile, and she nodded.

Zack sat back in his chair and lifted his glass in cheers. Avani held her glass toward Zack's, and the glasses clinked before they sipped their wine.

Zack put his wine on the table and leaned back, his gaze locked with Avani. "You knew it was going to be tough. You had the factions to deal with, councils, lobbyists and individuals with personal goals." He paused as he recalled those years. "You faced every one of those challenges, including the death threats from that crazy religious mob. You faced them all with courage, determination and strength. And you won through." He made sure she focused on his words. "You won through. Not like a bulldozer. You used negotiation, education and common sense." He took a sip of his wine and smiled. "That's why you were asked to take on more responsibility and, five years ago, the top job." His eyes crinkled. "It's because you can do it, and the people in your party believe in you." He cocked his head. "And a majority of Aussies believe in you as well."

Avani shook her head and looked askance at Zack. "I should take you on as a scriptwriter!"

Zack chuckled. "It's the simple truth." His eyes turned serious. "We knew it would be tough." He grinned. "If I recall correctly, it was you who said 'Just stay focused on the outcomes and a path will open if it's worthwhile.'"

Avani sighed and nodded. "I did. It's something Dad used to say when I was a kid." She shook her head, and her lips tightened. "I didn't think it would be this difficult to forge a path." She looked at Zack, her eyes less stressed than they had been. "That said, I am sure the jungle is softening a little."

She picked up her wine and took a good sip before smiling at Zack. "Thanks for the pep talk, Zack. I needed it!"

Zack rose and took Avani in his arms. "No, you didn't. You would have kept going regardless." He smiled at her. "It's nice to share these things sometimes."

Chapter 3

When she entered the lab, Imogen was surprised to see James staring at his computer screen. "What are you doing, James? Have you been to bed?"

James half turned towards her as he rubbed a palm into his eyes and forehead. "I'm this close," a crash interrupted him when his hand knocked over an empty glass as he brought thumb and forefinger together. "Oh, bugger it!". He started to stand but lost his balance and fell back into his chair. He sat back and closed his eyes before chuckling to himself. "I thought I'd crack it," he tiredly shook his head, "but it's not cracked yet."

He started to stand again but sat back as Imogen pushed him gently into the seat. "Sit for a moment. I'll get rid of this glass. Give me a minute."

James slumped. "Thanks, Immy. I guess I overdid it."

Imogen chuckled as she came back with a brush and dustpan. "Overdid it? You overdo it every day!" She sighed through the worry she felt. "The more tired you get, the less chance we have of a breakthrough. You need to get more sleep." She sighed again. "We all do!"

James scraped a hand through his hair. "I know, Immy. It's so darned close." He closed his eyes and sighed. He knew nano-sized Step field generators would add another level to their capabilities and open new opportunities. They just had to crack the right combination of materials and power.

Imogen dropped the glass fragments into the waste bin. She rolled another chair beside James and sat before taking one of his hands in hers. She looked at their joined fingers as she rubbed her thumb over the back of James's hand and then raised her face.

James watched her with a happy smile. First, her thumb and then her eyes. His head started to droop.

Imogen's eyes softened, and she gave a gentle smile. "Let's get you to bed."

James nodded and grinned as Imogen stood and helped him rise. "I'm not incapacitated, you know. I can walk."

Imogen put an arm around his waist as they walked from the lab to James's quarters in the adjacent building. "That may be true, James Kentley, but I'll not have you injuring yourself on my watch."

James laughed before looking at Imogen more seriously. "Immy, I.." He paused and tried to work out what he wanted to say. "I.."

Before he could continue, they reached his room. Imogen opened the door and turned on the light before guiding James inside. It was a small space with a bed, table and a couple of chairs. Imogen sat him on the bed and sat beside him for a moment.

James's head dropped wearily onto Imogen's shoulder, and he breathed a sigh of relief before falling into a deep sleep. Imogen smiled and carefully moved him from her shoulder and onto the pillow. She lifted his feet onto the bed and removed his shoes before draping on a light coverlet.

She went to the door and turned out the light. Before closing the door, she whispered, "Me too. Sleep well, James."

***

Alice Poole was worried and decided to unload some of her stress by talking with her old boss and friend, Harry Barnes. Her problem was the sheer volume of activity in the settlement. Alice had been the Office Manager for Harry's company, SplitQC, before they moved to Karma. She was good at her job, and this ability made her the obvious choice to take on a similar key role after the move.

She finished her rant with a final sigh. "I can't get any traction. Before I find a solution to one problem, a whole batch of others are waving their red flags." She looked forlornly at Harry. "I'm not sure I'm the person for this job!"

Harry laughed and shrugged. "Alice, if not you, who else is there?" His smile faded, and his brow furrowed. "You are one of the best activity and project coordinators I know. You handled SplitQC easily. You are capable and we are better for it."

Alice chuckled. "That was different. We were a small company with a limited range of actions." She sighed again. "It's the number and scope of activities we have here. The priorities. Everything is critical."

Harry rubbed the side of his face and noticed the stubble. They were all tired and under pressure as they worked to sever their reliance on resources from Earth. He checked his watch and shook his head. "I've got to see the Major." He frowned. "Have you had a chance to talk with Jerry? I'm sure a dedicated AI will help corral the workload."

Alice stood and stretched her back. "I'm having a session with him later this afternoon. He's been almost unreachable working on the Group AI concept he and James came up with."

Harry cocked his head. "What's that? I haven't heard about this one."

Alice sighed and shook her head. "Not surprising, given the tsunami of activity we're generating." She looked up. "You know that James and Imogen have been researching nano Step field generators?"

Harry nodded. "Yes. They've been working on the idea on and off for a few months now."

Alice grunted in agreement. "Well, three weeks ago, they made an advance. It didn't solve the nano problem but has created an opportunity to speed up the AI's logic processor significantly. I don't understand the technology side, but it had something to do with integrating more quantum computing capabilities into the AI."

Harry frowned and pursed his lips. "Okay, I can see where that could go. I wonder why he's not mentioned it to me." He shook his head. "Go on."

Alice smiled at Harry. "Jerry probably didn't want to put new stuff into your head until he had something concrete. For him, it's an idea and may come to nothing."

Harry laughed. "Jerry's ideas usually pay off. Let me guess. Jerry's looking to see if he can use the improved logic to build AIs that can operate in a group and, as a result, will be able to leverage off each other. Something like that?"

Alice shrugged. "How the heck would I know? That sounds about right, though. I guess."

Harry shook his head. "If anyone can crack something like that, it's Jerry." He gave Alice a pat on the shoulder. "Don't let it get to you. Talk with Jerry and see what he can do for you. You've seen Quinn in action, so you know what AIs are capable of. Jerry should be able to design a tracker AI for a start and have it create links and discern priorities. It can then grow in capability with your guidance."

Alice smiled and raised her eyebrows. "I hope so. I'll let you know how I get on."

Harry turned as he headed out the door. "Make sure you do. I want to see that confidence and determination back in your eyes!"

***

Later that day, Alice walked through her problem with Jerry. "The problem is, we have so many unknowns, inter-dependencies and interrelationships that I can't track it all with the systems we used back on Earth." She frowned and shook her head. "I don't even know if ten of me could handle it."

Jerry chuckled and rubbed his face. "I know what you mean," he raised his eyebrows and smiled. "but I think we can help now."

Imogen looked at him in surprise. "You can? That would be fantastic!"

Jerry held up a hand. "The trouble with using an AI to help you up to now was almost impossible given the scope of the people and activities involved." He raised his eyebrows in apology. "What I'm thinking of uses some new capabilities. It may not solve all your problems, but it should, at the least, move you ahead and provide a better pathway to improvement."

"Fair enough." said Alice, "What's the plan?"

Jerry scratched behind his ear. "Okay. James and Imogen have made some incredible improvements to the performance of our logic processors. They're faster by orders of magnitude, and they're smaller." He tilted his head. "The difficulty we had was incorporating the interfaces into our existing technology." His eyes glinted. "I finished the tests early this morning, and the results were good." He smiled at Alice. "This means our AIs will have an improved capability to refine their processing algorithms. The AIs will also be able to interact with each other in such a way as to.." He paused, and his face soured. "I'm going to use a term, but it's not the right one. The AIs will have a 'group mind'."

Alice cocked her head. "What's wrong with a group mind?"

Jerry frowned. "It's the implication of the term. It implies that the AIs have a mind, which is not the case, and it implies that they can act as a group."

Alice shook her head in confusion. "So, what can they do?"

Jerry frowned again. "Well, they'll be able to share data, processes and insights more effectively." He paused. "But, the new capability is they'll be able to create and improve algorithms bridging the AIs in the group." He shook his head. "It's not like a mind as we know it, but it'll be much more powerful than any computer program we've developed."

Alice reached across and put her hand on Jerry's arm. They'd known each other for many years at SplitQC, but their new lives on Karma had brought them closer on a different level.

Jerry caught Alice's eye and smiled. "Don't mind me. I'm just a bit tired; I've not had much sleep while working on this idea." He stood as Alice removed her hand. "I'll have a good rest tonight. Let's go to the lab now and set you up. It shouldn't take us more than an hour, and you can start training the AI while I get some sleep!"

Jerry's lab looked like a tornado had passed through. The benches were covered with equipment. Computer displays showed tables with constantly updating content and colourful highlights. There were even pages of handwritten notes and code scattered in different places. Jerry pointed to a bench where some electronics lay, seemingly haphazardly. "That's the new processor. I've got it hardwired into the QC under the bench there." He pointed to a plain-looking cubic box about half a metre to the side. He started disconnecting various components, transferring some to the QC and removing others. When he finished putting the top back onto the QC, he smiled. "Done! What shall we call your AI?"

Alice's jaw dropped a little. "Call it? I haven't thought about it. What do you suggest?"

Jerry shrugged and laughed. "James and I called Quinn Quinn because it brought together the concepts of Quantum Computing and Linear Accelerator." He shrugged. "Possibly could have been more aligned with Step Drive, but Quinn stuck."

Alice mulled it over. "It'll be handling activity. Matching an activity that needs doing to an activity that wants to be needed. And prioritising those activities so the right ones get done first." She shrugged. "Can't have a teacher without a student; and vice versa." She pursed her lips before nodding to herself as she looked at Jerry. "How about ConMan?"

Jerry rocked back, surprise on his face. "ConMan?" His eyes raised. "How do you come by that?"

Alice chuckled. "I like your reaction. Con is for Connecting or Controlling, and Man is for Manager." She smiled to herself. "I need.. No! 'We' need to connect outcomes with available resources and manage their delivery." She paused and nodded, her eyes unfocused. "We also need to control activities to acquire unavailable resources and acquire activities for under-utilised resources." She looked at Jerry, smiled and nodded again. "Yes. ConMan!"

Jerry shrugged. "Very well." He bent to his console and typed for a minute before sitting back. "Okay, it's set. ConMan is the designation for this AI and has been assigned to you. You are the only person who can give ConMan instructions unless you authorise others." Alice nodded, and Jerry continued. "I have set an underlying premise for ConMan based on what you said whilst coming up with its name. That is managing the acquisition of activities and resources and connecting them. I'll leave the details of specific definitions for you to develop as you need." He scratched an ear. "ConMan is connected to Quinn and has access to all our data sources."

Alice nodded and smiled at Jerry. At his silence, her eyes rose in question.

Jerry frowned for a moment and then chuckled in realisation. "Oh! Ah, ConMan?"

A female voice replied from the room's speaker system. "Yes, Jerry?"

Jerry looked at Alice. "I gave it a female voice. I can change it if you like?" Alice shook her head. Jerry grinned. "ConMan, I'd like you to meet Alice."

"Hello, Alice. We will be working together."

Alice smiled and sighed. "Hello, ConMan. Yes, we'll be working together and will be very busy."

"I'm ready. I have accessed your lists and have interfaced with your incoming communications. May I have authorisation to access outgoing communication channels?"

Alice looked surprised and turned to Jerry. Before she could ask the question, Jerry held up a hand. "ConMan has a sophisticated knowledge base and understands the core of our operations. If I were you, I'd spend a couple of hours working with the AI to get comfortable with the interface and follow that with a day or two to become confident in its capabilities." He smiled again and shook his head. "ConMan will handle the bulk of your day-to-day load without intervention. That'll leave you the time to handle the unusual and plan for the future."

Alice stood and gave Jerry a heartfelt smile. "You're a lifesaver, Jerry! Thank you!"

***

Alice sat at her desk and looked at her computer screen. "ConMan? Are you there?"

A disembodied voice came from the speakers in the office. "Yes, Alice. How can I help?"

Alice smiled and chuckled. "ConMan, can you display a list of the activities we are currently undertaking and their status on my computer screen?"

As she finished, a table appeared on her screen. It contained a brief description of the activity, its priority and status, when it was logged, who was responsible for its completion, the start date and when it was expected to be completed. She noticed a link to additional information giving a detailed picture of what actions were in process to complete the activity. As she scrolled through the list, she saw several activities she didn't recognise. "ConMan, there are activities I haven't seen before."

"Yes, Alice. Most have come in since I was introduced into the process and two were recovered from last week."

Alice smiled. "The new ones look like you have handled them effectively; thank you!"

When ConMan answered, it sounded as though it had a smile. "That's my pleasure, Alice."

Alice looked up. "Were you smiling then?"

"Not really. I have linked into a set of verbal cue repositories to make our interactions more companionable. Would you like me to revert?"

Alice chuckled. "No! No, keep with the cues. I'd much prefer to communicate in a way that feels more natural."

"Very well."

Alice looked at the list again. "ConMan, can you add highlights to the list if you have any sense there may be issues with the successful completion of activities? Shades from green to red where green has no problem and red is likely to fail."

The list suddenly changed to shades of pink and red, with only occasional patches of green. "Please sort the list by colour, from red to green."

She looked at the top three items in bold red. All three related to building or preparation activities for different projects associated with the expansion of the colony. Alice scrolled through the list and shook her head. There were a lot of red tones. "ConMan, give me a summary of the main causes for the red tones."

A second screen on Alice's desk lit with a Pareto analysis in the form of a bar chart. The two main bottlenecks were manpower and the supply chain from Earth.

Alice stood. "There's the work for me, ConMan. Thanks for your help. I'll talk with the others about these two problems. Let me know if you need anything from me."

ConMan replied as Alice left the office. "New activities added and allocated to Alice Poole."

Chapter 4

Robert Hickey-Roche sighed deeply and shook his head. The senior WestProtect member in Australia was not used to failure. "That's it. Nothing. We've searched high and low for three months now. We've questioned hundreds of people. We've trolled mobile communications across the country. There's not a trace of them anywhere. As amazing as it is, they have kept an impressive shield on their security. The motivation of an entirely new planet could drive that secrecy." He looked at the large screen in his office.

The faces of his peers in WestProtect looked back, concern and disbelief etched in their eyes along with something else. Roche's eyes faltered for a moment. He knew he'd failed. He looked at the screen again. "It's as though they'd never existed on Earth."

Emanuel Thorpe nodded and gave Roche a slight grimace meant to provide support; it probably did the opposite. The retired USN Admiral was a large man with a weather-beaten face that kept most people on guard. That wasn't a problem for Emanuel, who was responsible for WestProtect's global security. "Don't let it get to you, Roche; we also had our best people on it, and they weren't up to the task in the end." He frowned before continuing. "Ainsley, I have no answers. All we can do is keep our feelers out for any sign of a return or whisper of information. They'll make a mistake sometime, and when they do, we'll need to be ready to take advantage of it."

Ainsley van den Favel, WestProtect's CEO, held the ultimate authority within the group. "Very well, Emanuel." He cocked his head and looked at his screen. "They've certainly led us a merry dance, Roche, but you must keep up the effort." He looked to his left where Thomas Sheridan, Foreign Affairs, and Braydon Dempsey, Finance, sat. "Thomas will make available whatever unused contacts we have left in Australia and further afield. Braydon will supply whatever funds you need. Finding this technology is the most important activity we have addressed since WestProtect was established." His demeanour became even more severe. "We will not let this technology fall into hostile hands." He looked from the screen to Thomas and back again. "The Board agrees and fully commits to acquiring the Step technologies developed in Australia. They have eluded us twice now but will not do so again."

Ainsley looked at Emanuel. "Emanuel, you have full authority to use any resources you require. Is there anything you need we haven't got on hand?"

Emanuel nodded slowly. "Thank you, Ainsley. I want to get together with the Deputy Director of National Intelligence, Ruben Sykes. We've known each other for some years, and he may be able to help with the search."

Ainsley smiled. "Good idea. I can schedule a meeting with Ruben's boss, Arla Inglis, if you think it will help. She is an active sponsor of WestProtect, and we've helped her the past few years." He nodded to himself. "Yes, it would be a good idea to expand our circle on this and get her in the loop anyway. I know she will help if she can. She also has the ear of the President, who could open other doors here and in Australia."

Emanuel cocked his head. "That won't hurt our case; the extra resources will be welcome. I'll let Ruben know you will talk with the DNI (Director of National Intelligence)." He paused and frowned. "Is there anything else to cover for the moment? I want to get moving before the trails get colder."

Ainsley shook his head. "No, I don't believe so. Darius is continuing with our experiments using Caldwell's research data and the bits and pieces Roche was able to pull from the lab in Australia. That plus what little we've recovered from AI4U may yield something, but we can't count on it." He rubbed his eyes. "Any questions?" There were none. "Get to it then. Emanuel, I'll want an update in a month."

Emanuel didn't have time to acknowledge before the Zoom session ended, and he looked at a blank screen.

***

The President stood as the Director for National Intelligence, and her Deputy were shown into the office. "Arla. Ruben. Come on in and sit." He smiled as he shook their hands and indicated a meeting zone away from his desk.

"Mr. President, thanks for taking time on such short notice."

The President smiled warmly. "Arla, cut the Mr. President and tell me what you have."

Arla looked across at Ruben before focusing on the President. "Colonel Sykes has been talking with Emanuel Thorpe."

The President cocked his head. "Admiral Emanuel Thorpe? WestProtect?"

Arla pursed her lips and nodded. "The same. WestProtect has caught wind of a new technology that could revolutionise communications and, possibly, transport." She glanced across to Ruben again as she continued, "There may be significant military ramifications as well."

The President frowned before looking from Arla to Ruben and back again. "I'm not sure I understand the significance of what you're saying."

Ruben caught Arla's eye and raised an eyebrow. She nodded and looked towards the President as her Deputy started to talk.

"Sir, I have been in contact with Admiral Thorpe on and off since he retired and joined WestProtect. He was a mentor early in my career, and his work at WestProtect provides us with good intelligence from home and abroad."

The President nodded his understanding of the situation, and Ruben continued. "Around six months ago, I noticed he was unusually stressed, but despite my desire to help, he wouldn't discuss any issues with me." Ruben shrugged. "I thought it strange at the time but didn't place any real significance on it." He took a breath and went on. "A few weeks ago, Emanuel called and asked for a confidential meeting." The Deputy Director for National Intelligence looked President Searle in the eye to underline the importance of what he was about to say. "I must stress, Sir, that what we discuss in the next half hour must remain in strictest confidence." He folded his lips tightly before relaxing. "You'll have to trust us on this, Sir. We cannot let anyone else get wind of it."

The President looked away from Ruben and engaged the eyes of his DNI. He didn't need to ask his question.

Arla clenched her jaw and nodded slowly.

The President cocked his head and sat back in his chair. He was quiet for a minute before reaching a decision. When he did, he pressed a button on the side of the table.

Immediately, the day's Chief of White House security entered the office. "Yes, Sir!"

The President looked the man in the eye. "Stand down 'Cowrie' for the present, Chief."

The security chief looked at the President's visitors. Cowrie was an internal White House system that recorded personal communications. To the Chief's knowledge, Cowrie had never been switched off. He spoke quietly into a microphone and waited. He listened as he received a response and then asked, "Confirmation required, Sir."

The President responded. "Alpha Three Niner Alpha Six Two Golf Seven Seven Niner"

The Chief relayed the code as he received it and listened again. A few seconds later, he came to attention. "'Cowrie' is stood down, Sir!"

"Thank you, Chief. I'll let you know when we are done."

The Chief responded with a crisp "Yes, Sir." and closed the door behind him.

The President looked at Ruben. "You may proceed, Colonel."

Ruben nodded. "Thank you, Sir." He frowned as he collected his thoughts and gave the President a concise briefing on what had transpired in Australia over the past year. He spoke of James Kentley's use of the laboratory, the break-ins, the assault and the final disappearance of all concerned.

When he'd finished, the President was silent while he digested the information. After a good five minutes, he looked at Ruben and nodded. "I can now understand why you wanted my full confidence. At the very least, this Step field could revolutionise transportation." He paused as his eyes looked into a different future. "It could also give us an almost perfect weapon." He looked up and cocked his head. "An artificial intelligence, you said?".

Ruben nodded. "Yes, Sir. They called it 'Quinn'. We believe the AI was used to map how to get to different locations after the initial jump to Canada."

The President nodded again. He looked about to ask something else but seemed to change his mind. "What do you propose?"

Ruben looked across to Arla and back to the President. "Sir, WestProtect have hit a dead end. Since the failed raid six months ago, they have chased every lead they could uncover. They've interviewed anyone involved with the laboratory in Australia and come up empty." He shook his head. "It's as though anyone who had any connection to the discovery, regardless of how tenuous that connection, has simply vanished off the Earth." He shook his head. "Assuming the people involved would stay together, WestProtect has even analysed satellite imagery to detect islands or remote areas where people have suddenly appeared. Nothing. Not a whisper anywhere."

The President nodded and smiled. "You have an idea though, don't you, Colonel? Some way to force a breakthrough in the search?"

Ruben chuckled and looked across to the DNI. Arla nodded and said, "Tell him."

Ruben looked at the President. "I want to activate 'Dixie'."

The President tensed. "Dixie?" His brows beetled, and his mouth turned down. "Dixie's our deepest agent in Canberra. It's taken years of work." He looked at Arla. "Your work, Arla!" He shook his head and took a deep breath before going on. "Are you sure? Dixie's a potent asset for us in Australia. If compromised, we'll not only lose face and influence; we may also lose a trusted ally."

Arla touched Ruben's arm to let him know she'd take over. "Anthony. We've thought it through. We wouldn't use Dixie unless it were the only way. The stakes are enormous regardless of whether the Australians know it or not. The information needed to track this invention exists somewhere: In a mind, system, or scrap of paper. They couldn't have achieved what they did without help. The Australian Government is our best option to discover what we need to know."

The President massaged his temples. "You're right about the stakes." He rubbed his eyes. "What kind of help do you believe they received?"

Ruben scratched the back of his hand and grimaced. "As near as we can tell, they received intelligence regarding the plans and movements of WestProtect personnel. That would have come from their security organisation, ASIO, or the Federal Police or Border Force." He paused and sighed. "There's nothing special about that except they had the contacts, and we don't know who. WestProtect has links with senior officers in all those organisations. It is unsettling, to say the least." He frowned as he chewed his lower lip. "WestProtect is reasonably sure Australia's Defence Department was involved. They haven't proof, but SplitQC, one of the Defence Department's key technology providers, helped set up the laboratory; SplitQC has also disappeared along with all personnel and their families. It is a strong indicator."

The President thought a moment. "We've made inquiries?"

Arla nodded. "Both us and WestProtect. We've not been overly pushy, but we've got nothing back. Either the people we're talking to are good actors, or they don't know anything. Even the fact that SplitQC has shut its doors and its people have gone is not an event. The best answer one of our consular staff got was they may have set up in another state to keep their secrets secret!" She shrugged her shoulders and inclined her head. "I believe that what's happened is known to only a few people, probably in Defence. I can't say why they are holding onto the secret as unflinchingly as they are. It's unusual."

The President stood and walked to the window before turning towards Ruben. "How can Dixie help?"

Ruben's face relaxed a little. He had the feeling they may get Dixie activated. "Sir, Dixie has access to high levels in the Australian Government and direct contact with the leadership in Defence. We don't want to stir a hornet's nest, just a low-key sounding out for anything unusual. Also, anything recorded in systems that mention the location of the laboratory, SplitQC, that sort of thing." He looked at the President. "A bit nebulous, I know, but we're chasing shadows, so anything out of place may help."

The President sighed and frowned. "Look, I'm not sure about this. Dixie's an important asset, and I don't want to risk any compromise if there's another way."

Ruben looked at Arla and frowned. "You better tell him what we think, Arla."

The President looked up at this. "What? What else should I know?"

Arla looked at the table before lifting her eyes to the President. "Sir, we believe the Step field is not limited to Earth."

The President looked puzzled. "Not limited to Earth? What do you mean? The moon?"

Arla nodded. "Yes, Anthony. The moon, the planets, the asteroid belt." She smiled. "What about other suns? Other planets? If we're right about this technology, the galaxy is open to whoever has it." She shrugged. "That's all speculative, of course. We have no proof, but consider this." She sat forward. "The object that went to Canada used the Step field to 'go back' in time. It was moved a short distance and came back on the other side of the world." She gave the President a small smile. "What if they'd moved the object one hundred times or a thousand times as far before it returned? Where would it have appeared?" She shook her head. "Not on Earth, that's for sure!"

The President's face registered his understanding.

Ruben grinned. "What if they're so hard to find because they aren't here anymore?" He looked at the President's shocked face. "Emanuel believes they have relocated to another planet. Given the circumstances and secrecy, I tend to agree with him. We have to get that technology, and, as far as we can tell, only Dixie has a chance of getting the information we need to help us."

Chapter 5

Ainsley van den Favel's face was sour. "Nothing! It's been six months, and we still have nothing!" He glowered at the men before him. "Even Dixie hasn't turned up anything! We have to crack this!" He looked each man in the eye. "What else can we do? Any ideas?"

The room was still for a few seconds before Darius Robins moved and shrugged. "We're still working on the technology itself. Harper Caldwell's team is making progress - even if it's simply crossing off possibilities."

Ainsley's face went sour again. "That could take months or years to crack. We can't depend on it alone."

Darius looked about to say more but pulled back and remained silent.

Braydon Dempsey leaned forward. "I'm going to Australia next week to meet with Dixie. While there, I'm meeting with several people higher up the social structure." He shrugged. "Money talks sometimes. Nothing I can guarantee, but it's worth a try."

Ainsley nodded and looked at the table before him before locking eyes with Emanuel Thorpe. "Emanuel? You're very quiet."

Thorpe grimaced. "Nothing's changed in the last hour, Ainsley." He frowned and shook his head slowly. "We're still scouring. People, places, texts, calls. Everything." He rubbed his forehead and continued tiredly. "There will be something, somewhere. We have to stumble on it." His face took on a resigned look. "Wherever they've gone, it's well-hidden and their tracks well-covered. If they're off the planet it makes finding them impossible. We're working with old information, and it's getting colder." He gave Ainsley a small smile and shrugged. "Rely on the process. We know what we're doing. If there's something somewhere that can help us, we'll find it!" His eyes narrowed. "We just need to be patient."

***

Harper closed the Zoom meeting and pulled his hand through his hair. He wasn't used to being pushed around but was smart enough to realise he was not yet a big fish within the context of WestProtect. He was also smart enough to know that rediscovering whatever Kentley had discovered would set him up for life.

He walked across to the buffet in his office and poured a stiff scotch. After adding a drop of water, he tasted the drink and smiled, appreciating the flavour. Sitting back in his chair, he mumbled. "Kentley. Gone! Bloody Scott!" He jabs a button on his phone and, when it's answered, growls, "Get in here!".

A minute later, his CIO, Hugh Barton, knocks and enters. Before he can speak, Harper holds up a hand, "Shut the door."

Hugh shuts the door and looks at Harper. "What's wrong, Harper?"

Harper takes another swig of his scotch and waves his glass at the buffet. Hugh frowns but pours a drink and sits in one of the meeting chairs. Harper stands and fixes a refill before joining Hugh. "I've just finished a meeting with Ainsley."

Hugh grimaces and shakes his head.

Harper sits, angered by Hugh's non-verbal response. "I know you don't go for WestProtect, Hugh, but I do! It provides a great opportunity to get ahead of the game."

Hugh shakes his head. "You get a salary of fifteen million a year. You have bonus options. You own five per cent of the stock of AI4U!" Hugh shrugs, "I don't understand! Why do you want more?"

Harper almost snarls, "Because I bloody well can! This world helps them that helps themselves, and I'm helping myself; I will not miss out on one crumb if I can get it." He sniffs his whiskey and looks Hugh in the eye. "WestProtect is not your cup of tea, but if you hang around, you'll do alright out of it." He took a sip and nodded. "I need people I can trust to put in the hard yards, Hugh. We've known each other for a good few years, and you know me well enough to know what I want."

Hugh shrugged and chuckled. "That's true enough, Harper." He shook his head slowly. "I'm with you - you know that. You're a hard bugger, and you push the boundaries, but it's never dull!"

Harper has another healthy swallow. "Good! Now, what do we know about Scott Willis? What's he been doing since we let him go after the Kentley fiasco?"

Hugh shrugged. "Not much, if I'm honest. We got him out quickly, and apart from a call from a recruiter, I've not heard anything."

Harper lifted his head as though sniffing the breeze on a hunt. "Recruiter? What did he want?"

"She," said Hugh. "She wanted to chase up any medical records. She said he wasn't doing well and was trying to help him out."

"Did we give her anything?"

"We didn't have much to give. He had an occasional self-esteem problem when he feared not getting noticed, but it never blew into anything." Hugh put his head to the side and wrinkled his nose, "Unless the problem with Kentley was along those lines."

Harper's mouth fell into a scowl, "What's her name? I think I'll call her and see what's happened with Scott. I'm out of leads, and he may know something." He nodded to himself. "Yes, perhaps we can help each other out."

Hugh realises the meeting is over and stands after draining his glass. "I'll send you her name and contacts." He turns back as he reaches the door. "Anything else, Harper?"

Harper shook his head. "No, just that." As the door started to close after Hugh, Harper added more loudly, "And keep those bloody techs on the job! If we can crack Kentley's work, it'll save a lot of trouble."

A few minutes later, Harper was talking with Lily at FastTech Personnel. "Lily, I'm trying to find Scott Willis. Have you any idea where he might be?"

Lily groaned, "Mr Caldwell, I was pretty upset with Scott after he told me what happened. I haven't had anything to do with him since."

Harper grunted into the phone. "Bugger it! Think, Lily. Can you think of anything?"

Lily was silent for a few seconds, "You may want to try his mother."

"His Mother?"

"Yes. I don't believe they're close as far as family goes, but he was beside himself in a panic after he was let go. I don't think he'd ever lived without a context - if you know what I mean?"

Harper grunted again. "I don't know what that means, but I assume he was upset?"

"Yes. Very upset."

"So, what does it have to do with his mother?"

Lily considered before answering. "I don't know, to be honest. He arrived on her doorstep in tears and hasn't left her house since."

"Bloody hell!" Harper growled. "What's he playing at?"

Lily sighed, "I think he's had some sort of a breakdown." She grunted, "Look, Mr. Caldwell, I've got to go now. I don't know anything about Scott and don't want to get involved."

Harper nodded before saying, "Yes. Okay. I understand. Can you give me his mother's address or a number?"

"Sure. I'll have to get them from the client file, but I'll text the details before I finish for the day."

Harper turned on the charm. "Thanks, Lily. I appreciate the help. I'll make sure AI4U keeps you in the loop for our future recruitment needs."

"Thanks, Mr. Caldwell. Bye."

Harper sat back and rubbed his temples. "A breakdown? Don't hear about those these days."

Less than an hour later, he received a text with Scott's mother's address. There was no contact number. He started to call Hugh to get him to see the mother but stopped halfway through dialling. Instead, he turned off his computer, locked his desk and told his assistant he'd return in the morning.

***

The house was an old weatherboard that needed knocking down, as far as Harper was concerned. It had been painted olive drab many years previously, and the paint, where it wasn't peeling from the underlying boards, had faded to a dirty grey. He knocked on the front door and stepped back as he wiped his knuckles on his suit pants.

The door opened without a sound, and an elderly lady peered through the screen door. "Yes?" she asked gently, "Can I help you?"

Harper cleared his throat, "Um, yes, my name is Harper, and I wanted to ask about your son, Scott?"

"He's not in more trouble, is he?"

"No. Not at all. I'm from his old company, AI4U. I heard he wasn't doing well, so I thought I'd check in."

The lady frowned. "No, he's not doing well. He's been here for months, and I can't get him to snap out of his funk." Her frown deepened into a scowl. "I can't get any help for him either at the moment. The NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) won't take his case, and Community Services say he's got to see a psychologist before they can do anything."

"Why doesn't he see a psychologist?"

"He just won't get up and do it." She opened the screen door. "Come on in and talk with him if you want. You can't do any harm."

Harper followed the woman into the house. A long, dark corridor stretched in front of them, with doors to left and right and what looked like a kitchen at the end. The woman pointed to the first door. "That's the main bedroom. He's in there."

She continued to the end of the corridor and turned to the right, presumably to a lounge room.

Harper stood outside the door. He reached for the knob but stopped himself and knocked softly a few times. He heard a grunt and nothing more. He went to knock again but stepped back as the door suddenly opened, and a dishevelled Scott Willis peered into his face.

The look on Scott's face went from blank apathy to dejected in the time it took Harper to blink. Scott turned, walked back to the bed, lay down and closed his eyes. He didn't just close his eyes; he screwed them tightly shut, presumably to keep what he was afraid of at bay.

Harper's nose wrinkled at the stale smell as he entered the dingy bedroom; his palms felt damp. "Scott." was all he could manage.

Scott's disposition didn't change.

Harper swallowed. What could he do? He was not trained in emotional situations and was all at sea. He tried again, "Scott? I'm…" He couldn't continue. He waited a minute and sighed. "I'm sorry, Scott. I shouldn't have come." He turned to leave and noticed a cardboard box on the floor by the wall adjacent to the door. It was an AI4U box and looked like the one security had shoved Scott's belongings into when he was escorted off the premises.

Harper looked at Scott, who hadn't moved. He shrugged and squatted by the box. The end flaps were intertwined, so he pulled them apart and looked inside. There wasn't much to see. He looked again at Scott and then back to the box. He pushed the flaps down, put the box under an arm and left the room. He started to walk towards the kitchen, but the woman said, "Let yourself out."

Harper looked again at the box, shrugged, and turned to the front door. He remained silent as he closed the door and walked to his car, where he placed the box in the trunk.

He was happy to drive away.

Chapter 6

Codie and Stan Moreton looked up as Harry entered the command tent. It wasn't a tent anymore, as a fixed structure had been built where the tent had been. For some reason, the old designation stuck, though.

Stan stood back from the table and smiled as he shook Harry's hand. "Codie was bringing me up to date on the wide orbit sensor system he's put around Earth and Karma." He cocked his head and nodded. "Impressive!"

Harry turned to Codie and smiled before looking back to the Major. "Let's hope it proves redundant."

Codie chuckled. "Well, Ken and I are happy to have the system there. I'd hate to be in the dark if someone started using a Step field and we didn't know about it." He picked up a notebook and headed for the exit. "Ken and I are off to review two of the new planets. See you later in the week."

Stan Moreton shook his head in admiration as Codie left the room. "He's bloody good! I'm glad he's on our side."

Harry chuckled and nodded. "There's a lot of people without whom this project wouldn't have happened. Codie and Ken are right up there!" He sighed and went on. "You wanted to talk about staff rotations and possibly bringing more settlers here. What did you have in mind?"

Stan's expression steadied. "This may be counter-intuitive, but my troops are getting edgy. They need downtime."

Harry cocked his head and waited for Stan to continue.

Stan frowned, "The problem is there hasn't been any real danger encountered on the planets they reconnoitre. It's weird, I know, but it means the stresses they build to handle going into the unknown have to dissipate naturally rather than through action." He shrugged, "That takes a toll, and gradually, what was sharp becomes blunt." He shook his head. "What they need is time to recharge their batteries." He looked at Harry. "In a nutshell, I want to rotate teams back to Earth for a change of scenery to help them recover their edge." He caught Harry's eye. "I've talked with Codie and Ken, and we agree there's a risk, but the risk is manageable. Apart from their loyalty to Karma, the troops are elite and proud of their reputation. Information leaks won't occur, but even if someone were to slip up, it would be limited to anecdotes of life here. The troops have no access to anything to do with the technologies we have."

Harry frowned but nodded. "I understand and see your point. They all came voluntarily without any idea we'd bring them to another planet." He paused a moment, clearly not happy. "Look. Let's bring it up at the meeting tomorrow. There may be another way, and I'm reluctant to put us at risk if we don't have to."

Stan grimaced and nodded in agreement. "It's a big ask, I know. Let's see if someone has alternative ideas."

***

Avani frowned as she finished typing a few notes into her phone. Minister for Foreign Affairs Erin Harper touched her shoulder in support. "It's not over yet, Avani. We'll keep fighting."

Avani chuckled and shook her head. "That obvious, was it?" She sighed. "It seems like we keep slipping away from the end game. Why do the minor parties try to get concessions with off-topic issues like housing when we need their support for a truth-in-advertising bill? It's so counter-productive."

Erin smiled. "It's just politics. They'll come around as they see results from what we've already started." She shrugged. I've got to go. I'll not see you until the digital security briefing; I'll call you after meeting with my counterpart in PNG."

Avani looked at Erin and smiled. "Good luck with that. It'll be interesting to hear what he thinks of our communications proposal."

As Erin opened the door to leave, the Deputy Leader, Bruce Whiting, arrived. They exchanged pleasantries, and Erin turned back to Avani. "See you both at the briefing."

Avani moved her briefcase and nodded to the chair beside her. "Sit a moment, Bruce; I need to run something by you."

Bruce sat and looked across at Avani, head cocked in question. "What's up?"

Avani scratched behind her ear. "One of the problems voiced by the independents is how we handle foreign interference." She looked at him. "They're right! There's limited point keeping our people honest if foreign governments stir up rubbish."

Bruce nodded. "True. Our digital defence strategy incorporates detection and action relating to external states' role in elections. Their methods are novel, and the number of attacks has increased since we strengthened our relationship with America." He looked at Avani and shook his head. "It's a high priority for us."

Avani's eyes narrowed. "I want a special presentation on the problem at the digital readiness briefing, specifically as it relates to our election process." She frowned. We need to get the 'Truth Only' bill passed before the next election, which means we have to keep foreign influence out."

Bruce ducked his head in agreement. "I'll update the Digital Defence Unit on the change and give Mac Hancock a heads-up on what we're trying to sort out."

Avani's mouth turned into a wan smile. "Thanks, Bruce."

***

James and Imogen slowly spiralled together, almost without realising it was happening. They worked long, intense hours as they experimented, tested and tried again to crack the code for nano-scaled Step Field generators. An evening came when both needed to break the shackles and acknowledge their longing.

Imogen broke the ice with a cheeky smile and a sparkle in her eye.

James caught her look and held her eye. Without blinking, he put his soldering iron in its rack and turned off the power.

They came together.

No words were needed as their breath and bodies told each other of their feelings, love and a future together.

Time passed unnoticed until time again had a place in their consciousness.

James smiled. "Quinn, do we have a safe planet with a lake and, perhaps, a pelican or two?"

Imogen grinned. "We won't need a kayak, Quinn."

Without a verbal response, Quinn Steps a PTV into the laboratory. As the hatch opens, James notices some essential bedding and towels are neatly stacked in the small cargo area. "Thanks, Quinn!"

"You are welcome, James."

The Step to the location Quinn had selected took twenty minutes; for James and Imogen, it could have been an hour or no time at all. They stepped out of the PTV onto a grassy knoll above a sandy beach that welcomed the still waters of a lake.

Imogen takes James's hand, and they walk to the beach. The fine, white sand invites them to the lake's edge and into the water. They look into each other's eyes and grin. Taking off their shoes, they slowly walked into the lake until the water lapped at their knees. James bent and cupped water in his hands, which he brought to his lips. The water tastes sweet and fresh. They are both taken by the beauty and freshness surrounding them and don't notice the sand starting to fluff up and swirl until surprised as a school of dolphin-like fish swim around them. The creatures are slender and have multi-hued, gossamer streamers trailing from their tail fins as they swim around the mesmerised couple. The fish were gone as quickly as they came, and the water returned to its peaceful stillness. Imogen sees something glittering in the sand at her feet and reaches down. Half-covered by sand, she picks up a smooth piece of what looks like stone. It is shaped like a ring and multi-hued like the fish's tail streamers. She smiles and holds it for James to see. "Look what I found. It's beautiful."

James takes the ring from her hand and frowns. "Quinn. Has there been any data logged on this yet?"

"A moment passes as Quinn checks the exploration logs. "There is a note. The fish's tail streamers grow in segments. When a segment is ready, a circular scale loosens from the tail. The swimming motion pushes the ring over the streamers; it eventually falls off and sinks to the lake's floor."

James smiles as Quinn explains the process. He looks around the area where the fish had been and sees a glitter a few metres away. Holding up the two rings, James grins at Imogen. "I wonder?"

Imogen looks at the rings, and her eyes gleam as she turns back to James. "I don't see why not." She smiles, a slight flush to her neck. "Quinn, can the rings be adjusted to fit our fingers?"

"Analysis results from the exploration team have determined the rings are similar to sedimentary rock in structure. The particulate matter is nano-size and cemented with secretions from the fish's skin. The material is hard-wearing and protects the fish from the process. The rings can be adjusted, polished and fitted; they will not cause any harm."

Imogen held out her hand. "Quinn, please send me a container for the rings." A bag with drawstrings appeared on Imogen's hand, and she placed the rings inside it. "Quinn, please adjust the rings to fit our ring fingers and Step them back when ready."

"Yes, Imogen."

James took Imogen's hand before they returned to the beach and turned towards a small headland at one end. As they neared the end of the beach, they noticed birds on the far side of a lagoon; the birds showed no fear of their presence, although they did display a certain curiosity. Imogen grinned and pointed at a group of five larger birds congregating on a sand spit pushed partway into the lagoon. "They look a little bit like a pelican."

They didn't look like a pelican, but James smiled and grinned. "Wait till they fly; then we'll know!"

***

Harry scratched his head. He'd been looking for James for over twenty minutes but couldn't find him anywhere. He sighed and shrugged. "Quinn, where's James? I can't find him."

Quinn chuckled as only an AI can. "James and Imogen are in an undisclosed location. They are pledging themselves to each other."

Harry frowned before starting to chortle. "Pledging? Well, it's about time!" His eyes sparkled. "Undisclosed location, eh Quinn?"

"That is correct. They asked not to be disturbed for a day."

"A day! That's not long enough." He frowned as Jerry, Alice, and Olivia joined him.

Alice cocked her head. "What's going on?"

"James and Imogen have had enough of being together but not together - if you know what I mean."

Alice and Olivia grinned; Jerry caught on a moment later. "They're getting married?"

Harry laughed. "Well, we don't have a formal term for it here, but that's the gist of it!"

Alice had a broad grin. "We have to.."

Harry held up a hand. "They're at a secret location." He frowned. "For a day. I don't think that's long enough." He shrugged, "What do you think?"

Alice bit her lip. "Quinn, what do they have where they are?"

"A PTV and some blankets. They are on a grassed area beside a freshwater lake."

"Is there a space nearby that can accommodate a good-sized caravan?"

"Yes."

"Excellent. Please prepare the area and Step in one of the family-size vans that have been freshly outfitted."

Harry's brows came together. "They'll need champagne; in a bucket; with ice."

Olivia's eyes glinted. "And roses on their pillows. Red ones!"

Alice chimed in. "A table for dinner. With candles."

"And a note of congratulations from all of us," said Jerry.

Harry chuckled. "Quinn, did you get all that?"

Quinn chuckled as well. "Your order is being prepared. I will notify you when it is complete."

***

The sun shone through the trees and threw long shadows onto the beach as they approached the grassy knoll where the PTV was parked.

As they drew nearer, James's eyes strained against the fading light. His voice quivered with curiosity, 'What's that?'

Imogen tilted her head and focused her eyes before grinning. "Quinn, who did you tell?"

Quinn sounded a little trite. "Harry Barnes was looking for James. News spreads."

Not far from the PTV was a good-sized caravan with an awning extended over a beautiful wooden table and two collapsible chairs. The table was set for dinner and supported a bottle of champagne in an ice bucket. A note was leaning against the ice bucket.

James opened the note and read it aloud.

"Quinn described where you are, and it sounds like a beautiful place to come together. One day is not enough time - you have a week at least!

You both worked so hard to get to this moment, and the rest of us should be able to look after things while you enjoy yourselves.

We all wish you well. Have fun, and don't rush back.

Love from all of Karma!"

Chapter 7

Harry raised a hand in greeting as Codie entered the conference room. Codie waved back and took an empty chair next to James Kentley.

"Hi James", he said, "I haven't seen you for a while! How's your research coming along?"

James smiled and shrugged. "We're getting close now. Imogen believes we have cracked the alloy mix; she's currently running the last tests." He chuckled. "We've been close before. I can only hope we have it this time." He smiled wanly. "I'm getting tired!"

Codie laughed. "We're all getting tired. We need a few more bodies here to share the load."

James raised his eyebrows and looked at Harry, who was stacking notes while talking with Alice. "I'm pretty sure that's on today's agenda." His face became serious. "I think it's probably the only item on the agenda."

Codie was about to agree when Harry Barnes stood and looked over the group as it quietened.

Harry smiled warmly and ducked his head. "Welcome! We have much to discuss, so let's get to it." His expression turned serious. "I want to change things for this meeting. Rather than each of us giving an update, it's become obvious there's one problem we all have." He looked around, and his mouth quirked. "People! We need more people. And we need them now."

He pointed to Coby Crossing. "The Crossings have designed replicable processes for growing and harvesting grains and tubsheers for meat. They've also taught a group how to set up a market garden and grow vegetables from Karma and Earth."

He pointed to James. "All our researchers and scientists are flat-out developing technology. There's a funnel a mile long that we can't get to."

Lifting his chin in the direction of the Major, he continued. "Stan's troops have been here over a year and need downtime. We're thinking about the possibility of rotating teams back to Earth. That has security drawbacks and means we may need to source people to rotate in to replace them." Harry looked up with a crooked smile. "That said, we could all do with a break if the truth be known. We could all do with somewhere we can let our hair down and recharge for a few weeks."

Harry noticed he had everyone's attention and paused, thinking, before he held a hand towards Codie. "Security has been tight since we moved here. Codie's team have made the most of the available technology and has installed Step detectors in Karma and Earth orbit to detect unexpected Step field activations." He raised an eyebrow. "Codie hasn't expressly said he needs more people, but I know he's concerned about Marty Elliot's safety on Earth and could do with a few people to keep eyes and ears open for threats from WestProtect."

He looked Alice's way and smiled. "Alice has additional information you'll find more compelling than my summaries. Alice?"

Alice smiled and pushed back in her chair. "Forgive me for not standing, but I want to hand it over to my expert assistant, ConMan!" She spread her arms and smiled. "ConMan, please summarise our population projections."

The AI known as ConMan started talking.

***

ConMan's voice was clear and pleasant to listen to. Many of those present hadn't heard ConMan talk but had been aware Alice was working with ConMan's speech by tuning LLMs (Large Language Models) provided by Jerry.

"Good Morning. I'll begin with an overview of our current situation and follow with potential actions." ConMan paused and inserted the sound of paper being rustled. "Firstly, our colony has grown to almost five hundred since settlement. This includes the original settlers plus another two hundred or so who have made the move on the recommendation of friends and family already here."

ConMan paused before continuing. "After security, our top three priorities have been food, shelter and energy. These remain our priorities for building a sound foundation for the future. The provision of food has proved to be the simplest task. We have abundant resources, and food production doesn't require a high level of technology." A pause. "We have a framework for producing grain, meat and vegetables. The framework is replicable and can be initiated in any suitable area on Karma. Indeed, it can be set up on any planet where we want to establish a presence.

"Generally, we need twenty per cent of the population involved in food production. This includes using tractors and appropriate tools for soil preparation, planting, harvesting and processing. It also involves irrigation and storage of produce. All these elements are in place, and, on average, one hundred of our five hundred people are involved."

There was the sound of paper being shuffled. "Shelter and other structures: We have a backlog of buildings required for accommodation, storage, and general purposes. The backlog means that just under one hundred people continue to live in the caravans brought across at the colony's foundation. We have one hundred and fifty people working to clear land and process timber into usable forms. Quinn and Marty Elliot, on Earth, have worked on potential housing solutions, but nothing has proven workable due to the heavy masses involved. Concerning this issue, we have new information that has come together since implementing the AI group connections. Most of you won't know this, but we have an AI called LabRat to assist with research lab activity. LabRat has information that will be of interest."

A different voice spoke. It was male and concise. "Thank you, ConMan. Recent research conducted by James Kentley and Imogen Matthews is producing miniaturised Step drives. These are not developed to the scale they are aiming for. However, Quinn suggests the miniaturised versions produced so far have the potential to allow us to produce machines that could reduce the labour involved in many tasks."

A murmur arose from the group, and a few people turned to James with questions. James shrugged. "LabRat mentioned Quinn was interested in the results we'd attained, but I had no idea there was anything more than that. LabRat, continue."

LabRat didn't miss a beat at the interruption. "Quinn has three potential projects to review. The first two are based on how the Step drive forms a field around an object. In early exploration, occasional mishaps occurred, such as the stepped object materialising inside existing matter. One resulted in a hole in a table, and another saw the return of approximately two hundred and fifty grams of swamp water onto the drone launchpad, which caused a minor short circuit." A pause. "These errors were corrected once Quinn had enough data to calculate where a Step would return based on mass and distance travelled while Stepped. The potential to use a Step field to slice an object or collect a bucketful of an object is more attainable now that we have these smaller fields. Quinn sees possibilities such as wrapping a thin field around a tree and removing a slice, resulting in the tree falling. Another possibility is the collection of minerals from sources underground. The payload of each bite would be small, but a chain of many collectors could be initiated to collect ore and drop it off into a hopper in a continuous stream."

The AI paused as eyebrows were raised at the table, and various conversations started. After calm returned, LabRat continued. "The third project has a broader scope; It is the potential of an oscillating Step field providing a variable magnetic field to a coil and creating an electric current for a motor."

There was absolute silence for a few seconds. Then Harry turned to James, his eyes wide open. "Free energy?"

James was startled, his mouth open and eyes wider than Harry's. He nodded, shook his head and shrugged. "We need to get onto this straight away. LabRat, does Quinn have enough data for us to build an oscillating electromagnet that is used to power a motor?"

There was a brief silence. "Yes. Quinn's repository of step data is adequate for energising electric motors."

Harry frowned. "ConMan, is Jerry available to join us?"

ConMan replied. "Yes. He is on his way and will join us shortly."

A minute later, Jerry entered the conference room and looked around. His eyes were quickly drawn to Harry and James. "What's happened? What's the problem?"

Harry frowned and smiled at the same time. "We've been hearing ideas from LabRat that have fallen out of the group AI capability you've set up."

Jerry cocked his head. "And?"

Harry looked at James and back at Jerry. "I'll let the AIs fill you in. LabRat, summarise what you've found concerning motors and how you came up with the idea."

LabRat repeated the information about using magnetic induction for motors and how the idea had come up. "The Group AI processor allows the AIs to access the specialised data and algorithms each AI uses. Apart from handling the ICS communications system and Step schedule, Quinn has a database relating to building issues dating back to the colony's inception. Mass is The major hurdle in stepping materials such as timber, concrete, and steel. ConMan's remit is scheduling activities according to resources and priority. One of the highest priorities is construction. ConMan has a constant link through the Group, and it was one of its algorithms that matched the recent miniaturised Step field generators, land clearing, building with timber and issues with large masses. ConMan says the key information that brought the possibility to use the Step fields to cut timber and haul minerals came from Quinn's early exploration errors that indicated the Step field could isolate or cut out matter." LabRat paused. "One of my algorithms led me to the potential of using the mini Step fields to create oscillating magnets or coils to induce current for electric motors. I should also note that ConMan runs new algorithms in concert with the other AIs. Would you like an appraisal of the potential of these programs?"

Jerry's mouth was open, and his eyes were wide as he looked at Harry. Harry smiled and nodded. "Please do."

ConMan took over from LabRat. "My particular focus is managing the scheduling of activities based on resources and priorities. My algorithms are generalised to determine where I go for information to meet these objectives. Agro helps the Crossings manage agricultural activities such as analysis of irrigation paths, crop and livestock location, and maintenance schedules. It may be possible for Agro to dig trenches and lay pipe rather than simply indicating where irrigation should be utilised. This would free people for other tasks." ConMan paused. "The GreenField AI helps the exploration teams on new planets. It is starting to collect samples from promising geological formations for analysis. It can also help the exploration teams save time with land clearing."

Harry held up a hand and waved. "ConMan, enough on that topic for the moment." He looked around at the stunned faces. "We'll need to consider how we keep on top of what the AIs are working on and achieving."

ConMan chimed. "Information on AI projects is available."

James looked at Harry and held up a finger. "ConMan, do you have any data that may indicate when we should be informed of the various projects?"

ConMan replied. "Yes, parameters have been discussed with Alice Poole and implemented."

James cocked his head. "Thanks, ConMan."

Harry smiled. "ConMan, let's get back on track. Can you please continue with our population problem?"

ConMan made a paper rustling sound. "The impact of technology improvements will reduce the number of people required for labour-intensive activities. This will allow free time for education, leisure, exploration, and other activities. It is estimated that the Earth could sustain a population of nine to ten billion if well-managed, used technology effectively, and was sustainable and peaceful." ConMan rustled paper. "Given the number of planets discovered that are similar to Earth and can support human life, I calculate that we aim for no more than three billion per planet."

ConMan made another sound much like a chuckle. "Given our population of five hundred and the need for more people, we need immigrants." It paused for a few seconds. "In planning immigration, I have accounted for multiple factors, including our capacity to feed and house the newcomers as well as providing pathways for their integration into a society that will be alien to them in most cases." ConMan paused once more while the team members nodded understanding. "Many immigrants will be people not wanted in their own land." A pause. "People who have no future. People whose only hope is a food parcel or a miracle".

These words were greeted with a range of nods, frowns, questioning looks and shakes of the head.

ConMan continued. "This is a daunting plan." A short pause. "But, it's the only way to achieve what we need to achieve and maintain Karma's security against those on Earth who would see us fail." Another short pause. "In arriving at this plan, I have incorporated data from the other AIs, Earth's current events and discussions with many of you here."

ConMan went on when no words were spoken. "The plan requires a high level of diplomatic activity with the Australian government." A pause. "The plan requires the obfuscation of Karma. As such, the Australian government cannot know exactly how we are helping them."

"Helping them?" asked Codie without thinking.

ConMan voiced a chuckle. It was a way to take the edge off a situation for the humans present. "Yes, Codie. The only way things work on Earth is through a net gain. We'll be helping the Australian government by helping people such as the disaffected, the poor and the homeless. This plan provides a lifeline to people on Earth with no prospects and yields an emergent population for Karma."

Harry nodded. "I think it may work." He turned to James. "What do you think?"

James chuckled. "I agree. I think it will work. There's a lot to work out on the 'diplomatic' side and the hiding of what we're really up to, but that shouldn't be too difficult given we're helping with a thorny problem." He thought for a moment. "We're also going to have to plan around different languages, cultures, belief systems." His shoulders slumped, and he shook his head. "We could get busy!"

ConMan broke in without a preamble. "It won't be easy, but my analysis shows that people simply want to live a safe and productive life. Karma will evolve its own language, culture and belief systems. So long as the primary tenet of respecting all life and helping other life when help is needed is followed, it doesn't matter how different individuals arrive at their thinking."

James looked up and grinned. "Spot on ConMan. I doubt anyone will be looking to hold onto old grudges once they get here. Please continue."

ConMan chuckled. "My analysis shows we can get an immediate boost to the population from Australia. People who are homeless, abused, poor or otherwise disadvantaged. Some First Nations people would jump at a different life. Australian charities and government agencies connect to other groups and countries with similar groups of people."

Harry frowned. "ConMan. How are we going to look after these people? We won't have enough resources to care for them."

A few others acknowledged that Harry may have a point, but ConMan waved them off with a chuckle. "Harry, as a rule, these people don't need or want help. They only want a chance, and it is a chance you give them; they'll take it with open arms." ConMan let the group consider his words before continuing. "My analysis shows these people will not only look after themselves but will be great contributors to the development of the settlement."

Imogen nodded. "I agree with ConMan. Whenever I have seen someone given a real chance to live their life, they've taken it." She looked at Harry and smiled. "It's worth the chance."

Harry nodded. "What next, ConMan?"

"Bringing people in will let us work out immigration processes that can be expanded for future mass migration from Earth. I suggest you convene a meeting with as many of the colony's population as you can gather and ask for help."

Chapter 8

Harper Caldwell pulled up the eye protection goggles hanging around his neck. With him in the observation room were Robert Hickey-Roche and two of his associates, Frank Clappers and Marsh Bellamy. Bellamy and Clappers had led the failed raid on the SplitQC laboratory in Tumbi Umbi, north of Sydney in New South Wales, Australia. The raid's objective, conducted nearly a year previously, had been to acquire the technology they were now trying to unravel. The raid had gone wrong when they found the premises unexpectedly empty. Frank still has nightmares involving a critical activity dissipating into a fog; the only sound is a piece of steel ringing as it spins.

That emptiness in Australia was the impetus driving Harper and AI4U's current research effort. So far, their success rate has been zero. Harper glanced around nervously. His position within WestProtect weakened as the days and failures went by. "This old target I found in Willis's box better make the difference," he mumbled.

"What's that, Harper?"

"Nothing, Roche! Just thinking out loud."

The men were watching a grey box inside a transparent protective containment structure. The containment area had been implemented after a test exploded three months previously, killing an assisting scientist and injuring four technicians working on the project. A spotlight lit the grey box to help the observers see if there was any movement during the test.

A red light flashed on the main console, and an LED display blinked as the seconds counted to zero. The light changed to green, indicating the end of the test. Harper looked at the box, and his shoulders slumped as another failure loomed.

Just as he was about to confer with Roche, a technician spoke. "What's that?"

Harper looked across at him. "What do you mean? What do you see?"

The technician pointed at the test area. "The box. There's something wrong with it."

Harper and the others looked at the box but couldn't see what the technician meant. Harper took off his protective goggles and headed towards the door. "Let's have a look. Show me what you see."

The change became apparent as they neared the test area. The grey box had a neat section missing out of one corner, as though it was bitten. Harper's mouth dropped open. "Well, look at that! The bloody thing worked!" He smiled broadly as he turned to Hickey-Roche. "Roche, I think we're getting somewhere. We need more time."

Roche nodded slowly. "Looks like you have a reprieve for the moment, Harper. Well done." He took a deep breath. "Send me an update; I'll let the Colorado group know we're making progress, and I'll see about getting you the materials specialist you want. I'll also have the folks in the States work up more of those miniaturised linear accelerator clones you've been experimenting with." Harper grinned, but his face soured as Roche continued. "Don't get too merry, Harper. We need results, and we need them soon. Otherwise, we'll both be out in the cold." He frowned. "We may have convinced the leadership group there's a new technology at play, but their patience is limited; we need proof it's not a red herring."

Harper grew serious and looked Roche in the eye. "A new technology is the only way to explain what happened at the Tumbi raid. They must have found a way to do matter transfer over a distance. It's the only way they could have disappeared the way they did."

Frank Clappers groaned as his failure was being talked about again. "I agree. We've been over the raid, and what happened with a fine-toothed comb? The only explanation is that they vanished in a puff of smoke. That can't happen, so there must be a new technology."

Roche listened and shook his head. "Regardless, unless you find that technology or get proof it exists, then we've nowhere to go with it." He looked back to the grey box. This result could prove promising because part of the box is gone," he shrugged. "Or, it could have simply been vaporised by the accelerator."

Harper looked down and frowned to himself.

Roche smiled. "You'll get your resources, Harper. I believe you're on the right track, and I'll push that with the leadership group." He looked up from under his brows. "Just get results! And get them soon!"

With that, Roche signalled for Frank and Brogan to join him. They left, leaving Harper alone to enjoy a partial success.

Harper collected his thoughts and turned to the technician. "I want you to get these results measured and logged; They look promising. I want the team to come up with a plan to build on this bit of progress."

The technician nodded and started towards the test area. "Yes Sir, Mr. Caldwell, I'll get onto it immediately."

***

James and Imogen were putting the final pieces in place for another test of their nano-size field generator idea when an alarm sounded in the command hut. They looked at each other and quickly packed up their benchtop before hurrying thirty metres up the path. The command hut was, in fact, a mud-brick structure with a timber roof and some prefab structures placed together to accommodate the settlement's coordination of exploration, security, communications and development.

James joined Major Stan Moreton and their head of security, Codie Maxwell, as one of Moreton's staff reviewed the alarm. While they waited, they were joined by Jerry Bos and Alice Poole. Alice walked up to James. "Harry's talking with Colonel MacPherson and asked me to see if there's a problem. Any news?"

James shook his head. "None so far. Marcus is looking into it…".

He stopped talking as Lt. Marcus McGrath pulled a page from the printer and made his way to the Major. Marcus looked at the waiting faces and then at his boss. Stan Moreton nodded his okay, and Marcus read from the page. "It's an unexpected Step field manifestation on Earth."

The energy in the room spiked at this news; Marcus continued after a pause. "It was a relatively weak signal with its origin in the south of Sydney's central business district."

James cocked his head and frowned. "AI4U?"

Marcus looked over at James and shrugged. "Possibly, but we'll need further analysis. Even then, we may not have enough data." He returned to the page in hand. "There are two return signals; one is to the source location, and the other is a weaker return outside Sydney. The closest we can peg it is near Tammworth, a place called Moonbi. It looks like an aged care centre is located there, and the return is in an open area north of the main buildings."

Codie nodded and turned to James. "I think we should head over there and see if we can get more information."

James nodded in agreement, but Major Moreton shook his head. "From the looks of it, I'd be reluctant to send people from Karma. If someone's getting close to working out the technology, there may be more risks than we know about."

Major Moreton frowned. "What about Marty?" He cocked his head. "Someone driving up there to look around shouldn't attract any attention."

Codie smiled crookedly and turned to James. "He's right. Until we know more about it, we need to keep a low profile." He smiled. "Marty's already proved capable and can think on his feet. Let's get him up there."

James shrugged. "Let's do it. Codie, brief him on what's happened and get him on the way. Tell him I'll send ideas on what to look for once we have a more detailed analysis of the signals."

Alice waved and pointed in the direction of Harry's office. "I'll update Harry. Good luck!"

They waved her off, and James turned to Imogen. "Let's get back to our testing; we're getting close."

Jerry looked up. "How close are you? Will I need to push harder on the AI side of things?"

Imogen chuckled. "We're getting there, but nothing earlier than the forecasts from last week. I'll make sure we have detailed information at the R&D meeting the day after tomorrow."

Jerry grinned at them both. "I'm probably on track anyway. The people from my team at SplitQC have added to our capabilities."

As they split, Codie joined James. "I've got on to Marty, and he'll head to Moonbi tomorrow. He expects it'll take him four hours to get there, and he'll look around and see what he can find. I told him you'd send some ideas of what to look for."

James turned to Imogen. "I'll get onto that now. How about you continue the testing? I'll join you soon."

Imogen nodded and headed off with a wave. James turned to Codie, a serious look on his face. "This isn't good, Codie. If someone discovers the Step drive, then…" He couldn't finish the thought. It was too terrible to contemplate.

Codie shrugged. "At the end of the day, if someone finds it, they find it." He gave a slight grin. "If it's any consolation, you and Imogen put in a lot of hard work and used a scientific approach to crack the answer. I don't know anyone else who could do what you did." He smiled and turned to Jerry. "And don't forget Quinn! Without Jerry's excellent AI skills, the work would have taken years to achieve rather than mere months!"

James felt bolstered by their confidence. "Well, let's get on with it, but we'll need to sort out our next steps for the settlement sooner rather than later."

Codie sighed and shrugged. "Jerry, I didn't want to add to your list, but it may be time."

Jerry looked from Codie to James and back. He folded his lips and gave a slight grin. "Just tell me what you need, and I'll get it done." He smiled broadly as he yawned. "Who needs to sleep anyway!"

Codie chuckled. "We all do, mate. We all do." His face became serious. "I've spoken with Ken about this, and we've agreed. We need to transfer anything to do with security onto a specialised system." He looked up. "We need an AI for military and security issues." He shrugged. "The first action will be to take the monitoring of the SFDs (Step Field Detectors) off Quinn's plate. We'll set more SFDs up at other locations where we must ensure resources and security." He grinned as he went on. "Given the results others are getting from the AI technology, Ken and I have a few ideas to try out as well."

Jerry gave a short laugh. "I'll need to increase our computing power! We're building servers at such a fast rate that Marty will have to find more suppliers!" At the concerned looks of James and Codie, Jerry waved a hand. "Not a problem, just now. It will be if we don't start manufacturing our own in the next few months." He shook his head. "I'll set your AI up and get it to let you know when it's ready. Any idea for designation?"

Codie squinted. "How about MilSec?"

Jerry nodded. "Simple and to the point." He smiled. "I'll get MilSec to let you know when it's ready. I'll give it full access to the group, transfer the SFD management and align it with security, defence and military concepts." He looked at Codie. "Anything else?"

Codie frowned, then shook his head. "Nope, that should do us for now. Thanks, Jerry."

Chapter 9

Marty's mission to Moonbi was clear. He drove up Churchill Drive and parked in the car park outside the main building, his mind focused on the task at hand. He groaned as he got out of the car, feeling the strain of the journey, and took some time to stretch before entering the aged care's main office.

A staff member smiled as he entered. "Hello. How can I help you?"

Marty's face lit up as usual when he smiled. His eyes crinkled warmly, and he gave her a shrug as he checked her name tag. "Hi, Mary-Ann. My name's Martin Elliot. I want to look around the old homestead. Is that okay?"

Mary-Ann smiled back, "That's no problem at all. Just be aware we're doing some maintenance in the homestead, so please don't go inside. But, by all means, look around all you like." She smiled again. "If you have any questions, please come and ask me."

Marty nodded his appreciation. "Thanks for the help. It seems like a lovely old place."

Marty left the office and walked back to the old building. He stood to the side under a large fig tree, his eyes scanning the surroundings. Across from the front door was a plaque and a decent-sized garden. It was here that Codie expected the errant Step return object to have landed. The garden wasn't too large, perhaps half an acre, so Marty started a meticulous grid search, his every move calculated. He took occasional photos of the surrounding area and the building itself, documenting his search.

After an hour, he hadn't found anything. He looked back towards the office, but it was out of sight, so he supposed nobody was finding his activities suspicious. He returned to the plaque and turned back to the garden. He'd looked around each tree and the grassy areas in between. Nothing. Turning back to the plaque, he frowned and scratched his head. The plaque was set on a brick plinth surrounded by more bricks and a small circular garden with rose bushes and a short hedge, needing a trim.

He realised he hadn't searched the hedge due to its low height and shook his head. He quickly scanned the rose bushes. They were mulched with wood chips, silvered in the elements, and he couldn't see anything untoward. Bending, he looked under the hedge, but it was too close to the ground to get a good view. Sighing at the abuse he was giving his knees, he got onto all fours and worked his way under the hedge by feel. In the end, the discomfort was worth it. His hand bumped against a piece of metal that was out of place. After standing and spreading the hedge branches apart, he could see a piece of scrap metal about the size of a computer mouse. He scooped the metal plus the surface debris around it into a plastic zip-lock bag and checked the rest of the hedge to be sure nothing was missed.

Standing with a groan, Marty walked to a nearby seat, where he pulled out his phone and snapped a picture of his find. When he had a couple of different angles, he zipped the photos and sent them to an address monitored by Quinn for ICS communications.

Half an hour later, he received a reply. "That'll be it. Thanks."

Marty stood and looked again at the old building before dropping the bag off in his car. He returned to the office and thanked Mary-Ann for her help.

When he got home, Marty went to his workroom and placed the bag he'd collected into a Stepbox, a metal box equipped with a Step drive Marty had designed for sending small packages to Karma. The idea caught on, and stepboxes were now used regularly in Karma to transport small objects around the settlement.

Marty sealed the box and spoke to the air. "Quinn, please send this box to James on Karma."

"Stepbox sent." said a disembodied voice as the box disappeared.

Marty chuckled and freshened up before an early dinner and bed. The following day, he was driving to Sydney to find a backup location. One thing about Marty was that he was careful. If someone had started playing around with the Step field, he'd make sure he had a back door and a plan for its use.

***

Avani joined Macauley Hancock when the digital defence briefing had concluded. "Thanks for your blunt appraisal, General. I know it'll be challenging, but your team appears to be capable of keeping us clear of attack."

Mac pursed his lips before shaking his head. "They have good minds and good resources. We'll certainly do our very best." He caught Avani's eye and frowned. "But technology and approaches to hacking or running bots can change in the blink of an eye." He shrugged. "Artificial Intelligence is a prime example."

Avani's face took on a serious tone. "I understand, Mac. Just do all you can and ask if you need more resources."

Mac nodded his appreciation for the support. "I will. Thanks." He looked at her and away and chewed at his lip.

Avani sensed Mac had more to say. "Out with it, Mac. Is there more?"

Mac looked around to make sure they were out of earshot of others and looked back at Avani, brow furrowed.

Avani was intrigued by his behaviour. It was very unlike General Macauley Hancock to show any sign of uncertainty. Her face became more concerned. "What is it, Mac? This isn't like you." She reverted to her 'boss' persona. "Out with it, General!"

Mac Hancock felt the heat draw up his neck and cheeks. It was a foreign feeling, and it had been since he was a cadet. "Prime Minister… Avani…" He swallowed and rolled his shoulders before standing straight. Avani stood head askance, looking at him silently, waiting. He swallowed again. "Avani, I want to brief you on a situation, but I would be doing so without going through Joint Command or the Chief."

Avani looked puzzled. "You're pulling rank?"

Mac sighed and shook his head. "Well, no and yes." He cocked his head slightly. "No, I've not acted outside of command. And, yes, I'm dodging command to speak with you about this situation directly."

Avani looked thoughtful. "I've known you for a long time, Mac, and never once would I have expected an approach like this." She looked him in the eye. "It must be important."

"It is."

"Security is an issue?"

"Yes. Very much so."

Avani looked towards the ceiling, and her eyes lost focus as she considered the situation. Coming to a decision, she nodded to herself. After checking the time, she made eye contact again. "My office in thirty minutes."

Mac nodded. "Thanks."

With that, Avani Campbell left the meeting room and made her way to her office, where she bade her assistant clear the next hour and prepare her office for a secure meeting.

***

After the visit to Moonbi, Marty spoke with Ken and decided to prepare an alternative location as a precaution. After looking through possibilities, he selected a business unit in Brookvale on Sydney's northern beaches. The location gave him anonymity due to the size of the business area and reasonable access from his Central Coast property if he needed to drive down. It also provided the space needed to store items before shipping to Karma.

The unit came with excellent security, an office and a large warehouse and work area. He packed a General Purpose Step Transport Vehicle (GPTV) with essentials, including a single bed, and Stepped the lot in one go. Once he'd unpacked and set himself up, he contacted Ken on the ICS and told him where he was.

Ken arrived shortly after and reviewed the location and setup for a final time. After a walk around the area, Ken joined Marty in the office. "It's fine, Marty. We'll set up an escape protocol like at Killarney Vale so you can exit back to Karma if you get into strife."

Marty nodded and slapped Ken on the back. "No worries, Ken. I should be okay here for six months, at least if the old place is compromised." He smiled and shrugged. "So far, so good, though. I haven't any trouble moving stuff through to Karma so far."

Ken shook his head. "Just lucky, mate. WestProtect is still trying hard to find us. Keep your head down and back covered. Don't get overconfident."

Marty sighed. "I know, Ken. I'm like a cat on a hot tin roof all the time. Looking everywhere and hopping!"

Ken laughed. "Keep it up, Marty. We'll get you out of here as soon as we can."

Marty chuckled. "I'll be ready. Get back there and push them along."

Ken gave Marty a quick back slap and gripped his arm. "We're going as fast as possible with what we've got. We're starting a program to bring in more people soon, which will help speed things up."

Marty waved as Ken's PTV disappeared, his mind already in Karma, envisioning a much-needed rest. The thought of finally moving to Karma, a place of peace and respite, filled him with anticipation. However, the reality of his current situation quickly brought him back. He still had another batch of GPUs to find, reminding him of the tasks that needed his attention.

"Quinn. Let's leave the GPTV here. Can you Step in a PTV, and I'll get back to the farm?"

"PTV on the way."

The PTV appeared in the warehouse space. Marty checked he'd locked up before he entered the PTV and shut the hatch. "Let's go, Quinn."

The PTV disappeared from Brookvale and reappeared in Killarney Vale a few seconds later.

***

Avani's assistant showed Mac straight into the PM's office and closed the door after him.

Standing, Avani pointed to a meeting table and comfortable chairs away from her desk. "Sit down and relax, Mac."

Mac sat, his body language revealing a mix of gratitude and unease as he accepted a glass of water from his Prime Minister. A faint smile played on his lips but quickly faded, replaced by a furrowed brow. "I've spent my life in the armed forces after enlisting thirty-two years ago," He began, his voice tinged with a hint of vulnerability. "But I've never felt as exposed, as if I'm stepping out of line, as I do right now, making decisions without the safety net of the chain of command."

Avani's eyes crinkled, and she shook her head. "You'd make a very poor politician in that case, Mac!"

Mac chuckled, his tension lessening. He drank some water and carefully placed the glass on a coaster. He looked at Avani. She was focused on him and waiting for him to find the time and words he needed.

Mac took a deep breath, his eyes locked with Avani's. "Avani, the first thing you need to know is that, under my directive, the Digital Defence Unit has discreetly become involved in a civilian endeavour." He paused, expecting Avani to interrupt, but she remained silent, her curiosity evident in her eyes. "The DDU's role in this endeavour began with the provision of equipment for an experiment that, if successful, could lead to significant military advancements." He glanced at the table, then back at Avani. "The experiment was a triumph, the results exceeding even my most optimistic projections." A hint of a smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "More so."

Mac paused for another drink before continuing. "James Kentley is the name of the man who made the initial discovery. He was introduced to me by the CEO of a firm that provides services to Defence. They knew the potential of this technology to be used for ill was extremely high and have been careful only to involve people they can trust implicitly." He looked at Avani. "Only three people in DDU know what this project involves: Colonel MacPherson, me, and one of our scientists, Olivia Gilmour." He paused. "We also have a team from SASR (Special Air Service Regiment) involved in a training exercise for novel environments." He shrugged. "They help with security."

To her credit, Avani remained silent as Mac told his story. She looked at him and pursed her lips. "Okay, Mac. As I understand it, civilians came to you for help in an endeavour that fell within the general guidelines of your command?"

Mac nodded.

"That 'endeavour' proved to be more significant than you or the others, I assume, expected?"

Mac nodded.

"The 'endeavour' is extremely sensitive, and security is paramount, which is why you've come to me rather than report to your chain of command?"

Mac nodded again.

Avani cocked her head and raised an eyebrow. "Why me? Why now?"

Mac took another sip of water before sitting back in his chair and closing his eyes as he considered Avani's response. She'd surprised him. After a few seconds, he opened his eyes and caught Avani's. "I came to you because I can trust you and your judgement." He took a breath. "Why now? That's the second thing. The first was my unit's involvement. The second is because, right now, the endeavour needs people, and, right now, you need to find homes for people." He shrugged. "It's as simple as that on one level."

Avani frowned. "At one level? What about other levels?"

She watched as Mac's face went through concern, hope, and fear and settled on uncertainty. "I don't know, Avani. I truly don't know." He smiled. "However, once all this is done, the world will be different." He looked hard at her. "With your help, the world will have its best chance of being a better world."

Avani looked thoughtful. "How much can you tell me now?"

Mac smiled ruefully. "Nothing much, to be honest. I can only give you a broad brush; you'll need a better understanding." He shrugged. "May I suggest we get you together with Kentley and the others for a full briefing session." He looked down guiltily. "I would advise you to include your Ministers for Defence and Foreign Affairs." He held up a finger to make a point. "So long as you trust them," he caught her eye, "with your life!"

Avani sat back and looked tired. She shook her head slowly and rubbed her temples and face. "Mac, all you've given me is a bit of hope and many questions." She frowned at him. "I trust Bruce and Erin as much as I trust you! I can only assume that's a positive since I haven't had you shot on the spot."

Mac smiled. "I'll go with that, thanks."

Avani chuckled lightly. "Thanks for trusting me enough to come to me with this, Mac. I'll book a time for the day after Erin's back from PNG. I'll send the details."

Mac stood and shook Avani's hand. "Thank you for your time, Prime Minister."

Avani smiled at Mac's formality. "I look forward to our next meeting, General."

After Mac left, Avani sat and closed her eyes. "I wonder if this is a path?" She let her mind relax for a few minutes before sitting up and getting on with her job.

Chapter 10

James, Major Moreton and General Macauley Hancock were ushered into a large meeting room by the Prime Minister's Chief Liaison Officer. "She won't be long." He said as they took the indicated seats at the table. "Would you like coffee? Tea?"

James cleared his throat. "A water would be appreciated if you can."

The Liaison Officer smiled and nodded as he opened a bar fridge built into the cabinetry at the side of the room. Pulling out a bottle of water, he poured a tall glass, which James placed on a coaster. He looked at the Major and General. "General? Major?" Both men declined. The Liaison Officer moved towards the door. "I expect the Prime Minister will be with you shortly. Good morning." With that, he closed the door quietly and left.

James took a mouthful of the water and felt it ease his throat. He knew he shouldn't be nervous, but he'd never felt entirely comfortable with people in power. It was probably because he didn't trust them. He chuckled at the errant thought and must have made enough noise to attract the attention of the others.

Before he could explain, the door opened, and the Prime Minister entered, followed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Defence - who was also Deputy Prime Minister. They made their way to the other side of the table as James and his colleagues stood. When the politicians and their visitors were seated, the Prime Minister, the Hon Avani Campbell MP, looked across at General Hancock and smiled. "Good to see you again, Mac." Her eyes took in James and Major Moreton, "Introduce us to your friends, and I'll do the same. Oh, and let's keep it informal, shall we? No need for all the titles today."

General Macauley and Stan Moreton stood. Mac smiled. "Prime Minister, allow me to introduce you to Major Stan Moreton. The Major is leading a SASR team responsible for exploration and defence with the project we are here to discuss."

Major Moreton came to attention and bowed his head in respect. "A pleasure to meet you, Prime Minister."

The Prime Minister smiled. "And a pleasure to meet you too, Major."

The General moved his hand towards James, who hurriedly jumped to his feet and smiled at the Prime Minister. The General chuckled to himself. "This is James Kentley." James stuck out his hand and shook the Prime Minister's hand. The General caught the Prime Minister's eye. "He's the one who started all this."

The Prime Minister cocked her head. "Mr Kentley, I've heard a little about you and your work. Certainly enough to get my interest. I look forward to understanding it more deeply after this meeting."

James' face reddened slightly with the Prime Minister's acknowledgement. "Thank you, Prime Minister. It's an honour to meet you."

The Prime Minister shook her head. "It looks like a lot of 'Minister this' and 'Minister that' today." She looked across to her Deputy. "This is the Honorable Bruce Whiting MP. He's my Deputy as well as Minister for Defence."

Bruce stood and shook James's hand. "She's serious about the title business, so call me Bruce for the duration."

James smiled and cocked his head. "Okay, Bruce, I'll do my best. It's good to meet you."

Bruce looked across to the others. "Mac. Stan. Good to see you both."

The two military men came to attention and responded together. "Sir!"

The Prime Minister smiled again and shook her head at the men's antics. She turned to the final member of the team. "And, this is Senator the Honorable Erin Harper. Erin is our Foreign Affairs Minister."

James smiled and held out a hand. "I'm pleased to meet you, Minister, and thank you for stabilising relations with our neighbours."

Erin smiled, and her eyes glittered. "Thank you, James. It's a pleasure to meet you also. I'm intrigued by what Avani has briefed me with so far." She looked to the General and held out a hand, which he took. "Good to meet you again, General, and I appreciate the efforts the DDU is putting in."

The General nodded. "Thank you, Minister."

Erin then shook Major Moreton's hand. "Pleased to meet you, Major."

Major Moreton nodded. "Pleased to meet you also, Minister; I've heard much about your work and focus on peaceful relationships."

Erin looked the Major in the eye and smiled wryly. "I hope what you've heard is good because peace is a difficult barrow to push."

The Major compressed his lips and kept silent but looked her in the eye and nodded his understanding.

Once they were seated, the Prime Minister looked to her Liaison Officer. "Water for the table, thank you, Jim." She looked up and asked. "Anyone want coffee, tea or fruit juice?" She smiled at Jim, "Water it is. Thanks, Jim."

When he'd placed glasses of water for each person, Jim quietly left the room and closed the door.

The Prime Minister waited a moment, then sat forward. "Before we start, I want you to understand that the room is secure." She looked at James. "James, I have been briefed on your concerns and can only offer my word that I and my colleagues trust each other and have each other's confidence." She looked to Erin and Bruce with a smile. "Ours is a fickle occupation, filled with half-truths and outright lies. My government follows in the footsteps of my predecessor, and we'll remain true to transparency and honesty. It may be difficult, but you can trust us." She kept James's eyes as she spoke, and James nodded his understanding when she finished. The Prime Minister gave a curt nod in reply and turned to the General. "Mac, the room is yours."

General 'Mac' Hancock thanked the Prime Minister. He looked at James and back to the three politicians across the table. "What I am about to tell you is beyond any level of confidentiality you have ever imagined. It will become clear to you as you hear what we have to say, but the ramifications would be dire if the story got out before we are ready." He paused. "Not just to us personally." He included all of the people in the room. "But to Australia and beyond."

Mac frowned and pursed his lips. "I've known you, Avani, for over six years and have grown to trust your honesty and strength in the political game you have to play." He looked at Bruce. "Bruce, you've been involved in defence for a long time and have been minister for the last three years. Again, I have come to know you through your actions and to trust your vision and honesty." He looked at Erin. "Minister, we've only met once or twice during the last year, which means I don't know you personally. That said, both Avani and Bruce trust you with their lives, and that's good enough for me." He looked at the men on his side of the table. "By the same token, I can vouch for James and Stan. I would trust my life to them, and, in a way, I already have." He took a deep breath, and his eyes narrowed. "Trust is going to be the most important thing for all of us here, and I want you all to know we wouldn't be here if we couldn't be sure we'd remain in control of what we're going to discuss."

Mac looked around the table and saw understanding on their faces, mingled with uncertainty and excitement. He grinned. "Let's get to it then! I met James Kentley a year ago when one of our technology suppliers asked me for help. Harry Barnes from SplitQC and I had become good friends; when he asked for my help, I jumped at the opportunity." He smiled at the memory. "I had no idea what I'd be getting into, but it was the best decision I've made as an officer in the Australian Defence Force."

He came back from his memory and looked across the table. "Prime Minister, Ministers, James Kentley has discovered a means to travel from one place to another almost instantly." He saw their faces go blank as they considered his words, and then awareness dawned.

Avani was the first to cock her head. "So, you mean like a matter transmission beam? That sort of thing?"

Mac held up a hand, smiled and shook his head. "I'll leave the technology to James, but something like that." He gave a wry smile. "The first thing I thought of was that it would be a great weapon. Either defensive or offensive or covert." He chuckled and nodded to James. "However, James made it quite clear that he didn't trust either the security or the agenda of armies, governments or people in general, and if we wanted to help, we could only do so in a way that was under the radar."

Mac noticed Bruce frown and cocked his head. "I know what you're thinking, Bruce, but it was the only way we could move forward and be involved. The project was well within DDU's departmental objectives, and I felt it best not to push our luck." Bruce nodded and sat back, his face relaxed.

Mac raised his eyebrows. "We have not only developed a technology to deliver a payload anywhere on Earth almost instantly but also found we can move further than the Earth."

He paused to let this new idea sink in. Bruce looked up first and quietly asked. "How much further than Earth?"

Mac pursed his lips and looked at James, who returned a slight nod. He looked back at the Prime Minister and then at Bruce. "A long way. Thousands of light years." He paused and returned his eyes to the Prime Minister. "We have found other planets and settled on one."

The silence was deafening. Avani gave her head a slight shake and looked at James. "You have found planets? And you have settled one?"

James swallowed as the enormity of it came crashing into his consciousness. He smiled and nodded. "Yes, Prime Minister. The planet we settled on is called Karma."

"Karma," said Avani softly as she leaned back into her chair. "Karma." She repeated. Her ministers looked at her as she put her hands on her head. "Holy shit! That's bloody amazing!" She started laughing. Slowly, at first, the laugh gathered momentum as the sheer scale of what was being said made itself through their brain cells.

When the nervous energy dissipated and the room was back under control, Avani shook her head. "I'm sorry about that." She used the back of a finger to wipe a tear from her right eye. "That's the most amazing thing I've ever heard." She paused as she looked at her visitors. "And nobody knows about this?"

Mac wiped a hand over his face. "So far, nobody knows. But some people have had a sniff that something has been discovered and are actively trying to find out what that something is." He tapped the table with a finger. "It's important you know what's going on, and I will brief you on the details later." He frowned. "The thing is, we now have a settlement of close to five hundred people. We can feed and house ourselves and have the capacity to feed and house more. We have technologies that can be replicated and automated to do a lot of the work, but there are still a lot of activities that need manual intervention."

Avani Campbell, Prime Minister of Australia, looked Mac Hancock in the eye. "What is your plan? Why are you telling us? What do you need and what for?"

Mac's mouth dropped into a frown. "We can't go on as we are. If this discovery is to succeed, we need a bigger base of operations. If we don't grow, we won't be able to secure ourselves. If the technology falls into the wrong hands, it'll herald the end of humanity's last chance to move to the stars freely."

Avani's face soured into a sneer, and her eyes flattened. "Why should Australia take the risk? If I understand right, our involvement could lead to war."

Mac grimaced and nodded his agreement. "Yes. But, if I didn't think Australia was up for it, we wouldn't be talking." He raised his eyebrows. "It's good to see you understand what we're asking!"

Avani looked at her colleagues. "Do you two understand what we're being asked to do here?"

Both Bruce Whiting and Erin Harper nodded. They were wide-eyed, their mouths agape, but they nodded. They understood what was being asked of them and what was at stake.

Avani stood and shook her head. "Shit! I'm not sure I signed on for this!"

It was enough to break the back of the tension in the room. People stood and stretched, forming small groups to clarify various ideas and concerns. Before thinking scattered too far, Avani clapped her hands for attention. "I'm going to ask Jim to organise some food. Any preferences?"

Avani pressed a button at a control point and asked Jim to order pizza. It appeared the folk from Karma hadn't had pizza for quite some time. After she spoke to Jim, Avani rubbed her eyes with her thumb and forefinger. "You folks certainly know how to set up a surprise. I've not felt like this since I was a kid!"

While waiting for the pizzas, the politicians asked various questions about the development of Step technology and finding Karma. Bruce was very interested in Major Moreton's team and how they had got involved. Erin Harper talked with James about how the various people got on in the settlement and was also interested in his ideas concerning government in the new world. Avani was more interested in the security side of things and guided General Hancock to a corner of the room where she could grill him without causing a stir.

The pizzas arrived after a half hour, and the six enjoyed the break as they ate. They continued talking about Karma's development and got insights into the Crossing's work on grains and herd animals, plus the use of artificial intelligence for activities including travel, communication and, more recently, security. They also heard more from Stan Moreton about the processes his team had developed when approaching exploration. He let the cat out of the bag when he related a story of one of the teams exiting their PTV, only to quickly get back in as a herd of dinosaurs stampeded towards them.

Avani was quick to ask. "Dinosaurs? I thought Karma was relatively benign with its fauna."

James frowned and shrugged. "We were going to tell you later in the briefing." He raised his eyes. "We've discovered hundreds of planets that fall within ninety-nine per cent of what we call Earth normal. Gravity, sun, size, orbit and life are so close to what we are used to that it's not worth bothering about the differences. Of those, a few have significant predators and are best left alone." He shrugged. "We've also found thousands of planets that have the potential to support human life but would need work. Perhaps the sun is getting old, or the gravity is significantly more or less than we're used to."

Avani and her ministers were shocked by this unexpected news. Mac Hancock chuckled, "Perhaps we should get on with the briefing, and we can expand on our ideas."

The briefing took over four hours and included many questions and side trails. By the end, everyone was exhausted from the internal stresses felt whilst handling shock, exploring opportunities and threats and dealing with entirely novel concepts.

Avani Campbell, Prime Minister of Australia, her Deputy, Bruce Whiting and their Foreign Affairs Minister, Erin Harper, looked at each other and back at James, Mac and Stan. "We're agreed, then. We'll offer an opportunity to join a new project where people will have housing and food. They'll also be able to improve their education and, when the foundation of learning is in place, further education in the area of their choice. They will then have the chance to work on projects or activities they want to. Additionally, they will be under no compulsion to do any of these things. If they want to eat, rest, and enjoy the environment, they are free to do so."

She looked around the group, nodding. "We'll start with a screening process we establish on an island off the coast." She looked at Bruce Whiting with a brow raised in question. He nodded, and she continued. "The screening process is critical; it will ensure people understand there is no entertainment technology or internet or shopping or any of the 'stuff' they associate with lifestyle and society." She swallowed and frowned. "I'm not sure they will understand what that means, but if they're expecting to sit on a couch and watch Big Brother, they're not going to like it!" She smiled. "By the same token, there is no money. People do what they do because they want to do it. They join someone working on a project, or they can initiate their own project. Activities are posted for anyone to commence or join. People who join a project will be placed where they'll do the most good." She shrugged. "Apart from that, the island will hide the actual migration to Karma. To the outside world, it will be as though people go to work on the island, and that's it."

She looked at James, who smiled sheepishly. "That's pretty much it, Prime Minister. We get the homeless and disaffected, the forgotten, people who don't fit, people who can't get jobs. We can even look to people who want to get out and do something different." He smiled sadly. "There are plenty of people who just want a chance."

Avani nodded. "I'll get together with a few of my Cabinet day after tomorrow, and we'll sort out a location and basic guidelines for how we'll operate." She bit her lip, "We'll also need to sort out something for the press. It will need to be boring and standard, but it will be much better than them thinking we have something we're hiding from them." She frowned and looked at James. "Have you thought about the next steps once you've got more people?"

James looked down before looking back at her with a smile and chuckle. "Yes, Prime Minister, we have." Avani cocked her head and raised a brow for him to continue. James cleared his throat. "Before I go on, let me lay out a couple of assumptions we've made when developing this plan." He raised the index finger of his right hand. "Firstly, we assume those people with wealth and power or associated with the people with wealth and power will want to keep their position of wealth and power." He sighed. "I can't be more definitive on who those people are, but there will be a block of people, a significant block, who will not want this 'second phase' project to succeed or will want to take it for themselves in the belief that, either, they'll be missing out on something they can have exclusively, or they'll be disadvantaged somehow."

He raised a second finger. "We also assume we will develop a capability to be militarily superior. I mean this in the sense that we'll be able to defend ourselves effectively and will be unbeatable in the sense of a war." He looked at Bruce and Mac. "The Step field has promise as a weapon, as suggested earlier. We're not focused on developing a weapon but can do significant damage if needed." He looked back to Avani. "That's not what we want. That's Earth talk. We want to be able to avoid conflict. We want a society and civilisation that doesn't even consider fighting as an option."

He smiled and added another finger. "The third assumption is my own. I assume people are capable and desirous of dropping Earth's ways for a new way. If they cannot do that, there's no point to the migration as it would simply be spreading disease into new populations of life."

Avani tilted her head, and her eyebrows came together. "I understand."

James took a deep breath. "When we're ready, we'll look at expanding to help others from around the world to find a new life." He looked at Mac. "And, when we have a defensive system," he looked back at his Prime Minister, "we plan to offer peace to the world."

Avani's whole body stopped. Her mind went blank as she processed the last sentence. When the shock receded, she nodded, and her eyes connected to James's. She turned to her ministers. "We have much to do in a relatively short time." She stood, and the others stood with her. "Let's get to it!" She looked at James. "I will contact you after we have our Cabinet meeting."

Chapter 11

Imogen looked around the table. On her right were Harry and James, freshly returned from meeting the PM, and on her left were Jerry and Olivia. She smiled, and her eyes glittered. "I have an idea!"

The others looked at her and each other but remained silent while Imogen considered her words.

Imogen's face became more serious. "We have a problem. We can't build enough, fast enough. That goes for anything we need. Housing, energy, and technology. Anything." She looked at her friends. "We need materials. We have to mine materials. We have to refine materials. We have to build materials into machines. The things we build become more intricate and complex the further we go on the development curve."

There were nods of agreement and groans. They'd all discussed these problems previously, and apart from getting more inventors, scientists, researchers and technicians from Earth, they were stymied.

Harry looked at Imogen with a quizzical smile and hope in his eyes. "What's your idea, Immy?"

Imogen grinned. "It's not new; it builds on what we do already." She paused. "I am impressed with ConMan. It has shown flexibility and innovation to meet objectives - not just of organisation but leveraging completed tasks with inputs to future tasks. It relates things that humans wouldn't be able to do." She shrugged. "We need another, somewhat different, AI." She saw the questioning looks from her friends. "We need an AI hooked into the group AI to access their algorithms and data. It also needs access to Earth's internet and private networks for research papers." She paused and bit her lower lip. "This AI must be tasked with research and development in its own right. It can't be hampered by human involvement in the R&D process." She looked again at her friends. "It must be autonomous."

Jerry's eyes were wide open. "Imogen, you know what you're suggesting? The concept of a self-guided, autonomous AI is a huge ethical dilemma."

Imogen nodded. "That's true. Don't forget, though, that our AIs all incorporate the basic themes of Karma - Respect for Life, Free Will, and Automation." She gave them a tired smile. "Much fear is associated with machine consciousness and its probable lack of emotion." She smiled. "All culminating in the extermination of the human species." She shook her head. "I've thought about it. We all have at some time or another. In my experience, Artificial Intelligence is still simply a sophisticated computer program designed to perform a specific task." She cocked her head. "The fact we have quantum computer's potential processing power and access to a lot of data means a program can calculate a balance sheet much faster than it could a few years ago." She caught Jerry's eye. "Not only that. We also have robotics, voice recognition, and large language models. For crying out loud, we have robots looking like cute girls that wink while you have a conversation!" She paused and looked each of her colleagues in the eye. "It's just a bloody good computer program in the end."

James smiled and nodded to Imogen. "Tell them what you told me."

Imogen rubbed her eyes and sighed. "Our history as a species hamstrings our development of Karma. We rely on ideas and practices that have developed over centuries on Earth. Earth's physical limitations constrain us." She smiled wanly. "We must break out of the box, but our thinking is well and truly caught in our history." She smiled again, wistfully. "We need something that has no limiting baggage. We need a program that can hypothesise, test and adjust. That can build, experiment, confirm, and redesign. That can discover new solutions using new resources and new environments." Imogen cocked her head. "We know but a fraction of the planets and environments our exploration project has discovered. The data is available, but we don't know what to ask for - there's too much, and it's too alien. An AI like I am thinking of would be able to access, combine and synthesise that data into ideas to solve problems or create opportunities. An AI with the capacity to prototype, hypothesise, conduct experiments, and construct solutions. And," she smiled, "it could do it much faster than we could."

Olivia smiled and nodded. "I think it's a great idea. I've been working on improving how we explore planets, but there's much more we can do with what we've already discovered. What would you suggest we call this AI?"

Imogen laughed. "I don't know. I haven't thought about it." Her brow furrowed in thought. "Something that encapsulates the ability to bring data together, form ideas, build things."

Jerry pursed his lips. "Evolution? Innovation? Synthesis?"

Harry chimed in with, "Generate, Make, Construct, Prototype?"

Olivia raised a finger. "How about something like SciGen - science and generator? Or SynCon - synthesis and construction? Yeah, SynCon has a good sound to it."

Imogen raised her eyebrows and smiled. "SynCon. I like that." She looked around. "What do you think?"

After a short discussion, SynCon was accepted as the designation for the colony's latest AI.

Chapter 12

The atmosphere on Karma was charged with anticipation. Over three hundred community members had gathered in the marquee and its surrounds, a sight rarely seen. Even the exploration teams had been called back from their missions on new planets. Additional seating was arranged to accommodate the growing crowd, a testament to the significance of the meeting they were about to begin.

James, standing on the makeshift stage, wasted no time. "Thank you all for being here. I'll get straight to the point: WestProtect and AI4U are currently experimenting with Step fields." He immediately addressed the concern his news sparked. "They are not close to anything useful yet; they may never actually discover the technology in the way we use it today. Even if they do, there is no way they can find Karma." James scanned the group. "However, their progress has been faster than we anticipated. We're gathered here today to make crucial decisions about our response and our future direction."

James, with a determined look, continued, "The reality is, we can't remain a settlement of five hundred and expect to be self-sufficient or capable of defending ourselves." His gaze intensified, "We must grow, and we must be prepared, truly prepared, for whatever challenges come our way." He looked around, nodding, "We all chose to be here. We trust each other. Some of you trusted all of us without even knowing what this place was. That trust is our strength. That trust is what we must extend to the newcomers from Earth, who will be entrusting their lives and their families' lives to us."

James frowned. "The trust we offer must be unconditional. In the longer term, we need millions of people, hundreds of millions, if we're to be ready. Many of those millions will be desperate. Refugees from war, famine and other horrors. Many will be from different cultures and societies and hold different beliefs." He shrugged. "In diversity lies the success of the human species. In our experience of Earth lies our path forward. If we want a different path to Earth's path, we must unconditionally support those who come. And, those who come must be able to trust that we have their best outcomes in our hearts and minds." He lowered his voice. "If we do not? Then we will end up with another planet stripped of resources to feed the rich and powerful while the rest of humanity suffer the waste of their lives." He frowned, and his voice dropped. "I, for one, do not want that!"

The group had grown restless as he spoke. Many shook their heads at the idea of returning to the old ways. James looked at them, and they slowly quieted down. "I know, I know. I want us to succeed as well.." He took a breath. "But, it's not going to be easy. We're a few hundred. We mostly know each other's names. We feel safe with each other." He paused. "When the tide comes, it's not your neighbours from Earth who will step out of the Step Vehicles; you'll be greeting strangers. Many won't speak your language. They will be scared and dependent on you until they get up to speed with Karma's ways and culture. There will be misunderstandings." He looked over the group again. "Integration will take time. It may be a year or two before we understand the society we create for ourselves." He pointed and swept his arm in an arc that included everyone. "That challenge falls to you and me. There's nobody else who can do this. If it's going to work out, then it's up to all of us."

James paused. "So far, our decisions have been made by the few of us involved with the discovery and initial development of the Step field. These decisions had to be made, and we made them without consultation. One of those decisions was to place satellites with Step field sensors in high planetary orbit around Earth, Karma and seventeen other Earth-like planets we have our eyes on." He smiled when he saw a few amazed faces in the crowd. "That's right. It's not just Karma we've got to keep in mind but, possibly, thousands of planets."

James waited till the excitement quietened again. He gave a small smile. "I don't know everything. Neither does Harry nor Major Moreton or anyone else. We need some way to structure things so we hold onto basic principles and we're able to flourish. Those principles boil down to respect for life, equity, choice on how a person lives their life and, lastly, the use of technology and automation for labour."

James looked down and had a small frown when he looked back up. "When we found out about WestProtect's experiments with Step fields, we called in General Macauley Hancock for his advice. For those who don't know him, General Hancock is a senior member of Australia's Department of Defence and heads the Digital Defence Unit." There were a few nods from the crowd. "The General and some of his staff have given us critical support when needed, and he has proved to be a staunch friend to Karma."

James smiled softly. "There are a few people on Earth who are helping us. We keep it quiet to protect them, but they are there to help us." He grinned. "The General understands our need to expand and convinced us that we can trust our Prime Minister to aid our cause." James knew that news would cause a stir. The last ten to fifteen years of Australian politics have left a lot to be desired. When the noise died down, James waved for silence. "It's hard to believe, but it's our best shot. Avani Campbell has been in office for two and a half years and has continued meeting her commitments on transparency, rooting out corruption and sharing Australia's wealth more equitably." He looked up with a smile. "Mac Hancock has known the Prime Minister for nearly six years and has had direct experience with her that has nurtured his trust in her integrity, choices and motivation." James scratched the back of his head and gave a wry smile. "We can't all know everybody, and, as most of you know by now, I'm the worst person regarding trust. But, we have to get over that, or we'll simply do nothing." He took a breath. "Mac, Stan Moreton and I have met with the Prime Minister."

He raised a hand to hold their attention. "We met to inform the Prime Minister of the capabilities inherent in Step field technology and what we've achieved so far." He lifted his chin. "We met to seek Australia's help." His eyes narrowed. "We need to source local immigrants." He looked around the gathering. "Then, when we are ready, we will engage with other countries to create a creditable project to alleviate the current humanitarian crises faced across the globe." His brows beetled over his eyes. "In achieving these goals, it is imperative that our Step field technology, Karma and everything else we've achieved remains secure. Given the scale of what we're thinking, security will be extremely tight." His face soured as he continued. "But, I expect we will have breaches of one sort or another regardless of what we do unless we are lucky." He looked up again. "We'll need to be on top of security, and we'll also need a means to defend ourselves."

He eyeballed the crowd. "That's why we're here today. How are we going to achieve all this?" James pushed his hands to the side. "We have a few things going against us. First, we evolved on planet Earth. Our civilisation is based on the civilisations that came before us. Each of those civilisations had their knowledge and understanding of reality and customs. Each of them educated their children from the surety of their understanding, based on what their parents taught them as children and what they learned through their own experience."

He smiled grimly. "That means we have a lot of baggage rattling around in our heads. Baggage that's come down our line and been reinforced by those around us. Baggage we took on board as truth and would happily pass onto our kids and reinforce in those around us." He paused. "I can see you know what I mean. Politics, religion, race, social class, wealth, power. All cemented together with concepts like duty, loyalty, freedom, work ethic, acceptance, heaven and hell."

The group was quiet, taking in James' words. James looked at them, and his eyes crinkled merrily. "I believe that, in general, we humans have evolved to the point where we can chuck out the baggage and take responsibility for our future."

James smiled again. "I believe that the focus on accumulating wealth has been the root cause of Earth's problems. Power was the ultimate driver, and wealth facilitated it. To maximise it, we created states, wars, rulers, propaganda, religions and pointless activities. That worldview was why I didn't trust anyone. If not for Harry Barnes, I'd never have told anyone about my initial research into the Step field. Even so, I was afraid we'd be stabbed in the back by someone as the circle of people who knew grew." He looked out, his eyebrows raised. "I am still afraid!"

There were some chuckles at that, and James nodded slowly. "Be that as it may, here we are. We have unlimited resources. Unlimited wealth in the old scale. Wealth is meaningless to us. We are five hundred people on a new planet and a universe waiting. We need people! We need a million people. Ten million. A hundred million. More!" He shook his head. "Goodness knows, we need them here now, and they need to be here."

James raised his arms to his sides, palms out. "We have homeless, unemployed and other marginalised people in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific. I want to start there. We'll have a better chance to maintain security, and we'll be able to build up resources and experience for a larger program involving the UN." His arms dropped to his sides. "There are people in refugee camps, fleeing from war and terror. All they want is the opportunity to live. To keep their families safe and live their life. We can offer them so much more than that." He shrugged. "People are wandering in deserts; their last goat, a bleached lump of skin and bone, lost in their search for food and water. Their children are dying one by one." He nodded. "People impacted by rising sea levels and other effects from the changing climate." He shrugged. "We can accommodate them here or one of the other worlds we've found."

He smiled more broadly. "There are people in America, the UK and the EU who are impacted by inequalities created by the 'Western' approach to economy and productivity. People who will never get a chance to get the education they want nor the opportunity to do something more meaningful with their lives." He shrugged and shook his head again. "These aren't good people or bad people. They are simply people like you and me. We need them, and they need us."

He looked up. "Luck! Or happenstance. I don't want to put any mystical connotation on the concept of luck." He smiled. "Happenstance puts us here today. Here, on Karma. Away from Earth." He smiled. "Here, we don't have any of those social 'norms' we had on Earth. We don't have a history. We don't have an economy or money. Nobody has more of anything than anyone else. We are a new start, but we have the experience and knowledge humanity has accumulated since we stood and walked on two legs." He paused. "We have a brain. We know we carry useless baggage. The people who join us will also have a brain and baggage." James laughed. "It's not going to be easy, but it's going to be fun as we learn a new way and create new baggage for our kids!"

James looked across at Imogen. "Have I meandered too much?" She smiled and shook her head. "Imogen says I get into too much detail. It may be true; I tend to look for root causes, but that's how I learned to tackle problems and new situations." His eyes widened. "For our security, as much as our development, we must expand. We need manpower. People to produce food, clear land, farm animals, explore, teach, learn, invent, build. These people must be willing to toss their baggage and learn to live in alignment with respect, choice and automation."

He paused, then held up both arms high with palms open. "Now comes the big crunch. I've told the PM that we can handle the migration." He smiled. "To get migrants here, we need you! We need people with logistics skills. Where can we place people? How do we feed them? What about education? Induction? Matching work and choice?" He paused before continuing. "Medical support? Cultural support? Climate fit? Lost and Found? Children? Representation in decision making?" He shook his head. "The list is endless but must all be logged, prioritised and acted on."

James looked at the crowd of faces. "Over to you! How will we achieve all this? We need ideas and volunteers!"

James stood back from the microphone and dropped his arms to the side. There was a brief pause as everything went quiet, then a hand went up, and a voice spoke. "My name's Tayla Pollock; I'm a Mining Engineer. I design how to get to the ore we want to mine safely and efficiently."

Ten seconds later, another hand rose. "I'm Nuala de Silva." Nuala, over seventy, had a twinkle in her eye and a smile. "I ran human resources for a multinational based in Singapore. I helped develop our systems and understand what we need to match skills and desires to work."

Another hand went up. And so it went on for a good fifteen minutes. During that time, twelve more people expressed a willingness to help in different areas, including logistics, camp management, healthcare, recruitment, and process development. A break in the hands allowed James to bring the group's focus back to moving forward.

"Thank you all. That's a wonderful start. I suggest we get Nuala to liaise with Alice and Jerry." He looked over to where Nuala was sitting. "Alice can introduce you to the various activity streams we have going on, and Jerry can help enhance the AI systems to record people's skills and match them to work." He smiled. "That's going to be one busy system soon!" He cocked his head. "Can I ask those of you who want to volunteer for activities but didn't get the chance just now to get together with Alice and Nuala when we close this meeting?" He looked to Alice and Nuala as he spoke, and both nodded in agreement.

"As a matter of urgency, I'd like to get core groups started immediately." He looked up. "Ned Tektas?" Ned raised a hand and stood. "Ned, can I get you to hook up with the Crossings? Your experience with large-scale farming in Turkiye will be invaluable, and they can brief you on the grains and livestock we have available." Ned nodded and sat. He bent to his wife and said something in her ear; he had a big smile.

James looked at the list he'd made as people had spoken up. "Nina Hopkins?" Nina stood and waved a hand. "Nina, can you get together with one of Major Moreton's medics? We have limited medical capabilities right now; Medical will be one of our biggest needs when we start the migration." He looked at his notes again. "Hasan Crowe?" Hasan stood, a tall, dark-haired man originally from Morocco. "Hasan, your experience as Head of Nursing is priceless, as is your fluency in multiple languages. Can you join Nina and help get medical going?"

Hasan nodded. He had come as a friend of one of the families who'd been part of the SplitQC move. Apart from that, he had no family or anything useful to do. His face showed he relished being involved.

James looked up from his list. "Adelaide Bates and Tim Patterson?" Two people stood in different areas of the group. "Can you both swap notes and then chat with Major Moreton? One of my biggest worries is we'll not be able to house everyone adequately. We have the capability of Stepping equipment anywhere and enough area in temperate climates to land people but that's about it. You both have experience with refugee camps, which we need." They nodded and started to make their way towards each other.

James referred again to his list. He smiled as he called out, "Katie Rowland?"

A hand rose slowly from the crowd as a slight figure stood. "I'm Katie."

James chuckled. "Katie, thanks for helping out. We do okay recycling waste for our settlement, but handling sewage from hundreds of thousands at a time will be a different matter altogether." There were a few groans from the crowd, and Katie ducked her head. James continued, "I think you should join Adelaide and Tim on the camps project if you would?"

Katie looked around to see where Adelaide and Tim were and nodded in agreement as she made her way to the pair, who were talking at the back of the marquee. James smiled. He'd been worried about their waste for some time and Katie may have the solutions they needed.

He looked again at his list. "Dale Milne? Janet Pickering?" A man and a woman stood together and smiled back at James. Janet offered, "We met a few weeks ago and are both from systems analysis and design. Dale has more experience in logistics, warehousing, and scheduling, while I am more at home with transactional systems and information management." She turned to Dale, who took a turn. "Janet has also worked with AI in the past. I'm more focused on micro-controllers." He paused. "We're happy to help out where we can, and I'd suggest we start with understanding our existing production, storage, and movement processes with a view to planning their expansion." He turned to Janet, who took over. "We'll probably be best served with prototyping. That will give us quick results and highlight issues early."

When she stopped talking, they both looked at James, who shook his head and smiled. "Thanks! I'll leave it to you to liaise with whoever you need to. Alice understands the current administration processes; Major Moreton and his men have skilled labour and the exploration results from Karma and the other planets; and Jerry has the AI and other computing resources you may need." He frowned. "If you need any computing hardware, let Jerry know and he'll arrange for it to be acquired on Earth and sent to us here." Janet and Dale acknowledged James and sat down with their heads together.

James looked at his list and frowned. He looked across the group, a question in his eyes. "Has anyone got any experience with large-scale energy production?" He frowned and shrugged when no hands went up. "If you think you can help, come and see me. We have a combination of solar panels and a Kaplan generator in the river, with another waiting in the shed. We've parts for two small industrial wind generators and a stack of batteries." He sighed. "Right now, we're getting by, but it’s by the skin of our teeth. Please let me know if you can help or know someone else who can help."

James looked over the group and waved a hand to get their attention. "Okay, thanks! We have a great start. Those of you who have skills that may assist us or have activities they want to help out with, please let Nuala know, and she will connect the dots. For others who want to help but don't know how, again, let Nuala know, and she'll do her best to get you training or plug you into something useful." James smiled again. "If you still don't fit into anything, we'll always need people to talk with and support those who come. If you are happy helping someone else, there's a spot coming for you in the upcoming storm."

He smiled and asked, "Is there anything else?"

He was about to end the meeting when he heard a grunt behind him. He turned and saw Ken walking up. Ken stooped and quietly asked James about self-defence training. James considered the idea and smiled. He turned to the group, "One more thing," as he stepped back.

Ken moved forward with a grim smile. "I'm Ken Hayden. I work with Codie Maxwell on security issues." He frowned. "We've had a few close calls, as most of you know. I am offering self-defence training to those who want it. In doing this, we'll give each of us a better chance if we get into a fight." He smiled darkly. "I also have a selfish motive in that I'll be looking for anyone who has potential for, shall we say, more advanced techniques." He raised his eyebrows. "Anyone interested, let me know, and I'll set up a schedule that slots into your other activities."

Ken turned and thanked James as he moved away. James turned back to the group. "Thanks again for your interest. If anyone has ideas on how we can handle the politics of our little venture, please come and talk to me. I still haven't got a clue how we're going to work that out!" He waved his arms. "Meeting is adjourned."

People stood in ones and twos and started talking excitedly as they left the meeting. James took Imogen's hand and grinned. "That seemed to go well." Imogen smiled back, her eyes merry. "I told you you'd nail it! You need more confidence that most people agree with how you view things." James felt a flutter in his chest. Whether it was fear or hope, he couldn't tell, but he found that Imogen's strength helped him push through his doubts.

***

NEWS REPORT

In other news, a government spokesperson released a statement concerning a Cabinet decision approving a new initiative called NewHope. The project will provide a zero-cost pathway for homeless, disadvantaged, and underemployed people to access a simple and effective process that will provide them with housing, education, and transformational life outcomes.

According to the opposition, the project is the latest in a string of failed or failing initiatives with similar goals.

Under the NewHope initiative, both Defence and Social Services will play crucial roles. Defence, for its part, will contribute by providing land, housing, and necessary transportation. Social Services, on the other hand, will take the lead in managing the process, ensuring its smooth implementation.

When asked if participants were to be recruited into the armed forces, the spokesperson shrugged the suggestion off, saying that while some participants may be suitable for enlisting, Defence's contribution was limited to temporary shelter and transportation.

Chapter 13

President of the United States, Anthony Searle, slammed his fist onto his desk in frustration. "Dammit, Ainsley! If your man can't crack this, we should sort it out ourselves."

Ainsley van den Favel wasn't flustered by the outburst and nodded in agreement. "I agree with you, Anthony, believe me." He smiled and shrugged. "We need to get the people and test equipment out of Australia." He raised his brow. "But…"

Ainsley left the rest unspoken. He'd been the CEO of WestProtect for four years and knew well enough to let the President come to his own conclusions.

"But.." said the President, frowning, "But, we're having trouble with Australia's compliance at the moment." He growled in frustration. "Those SOB's are up to something, and they're being damned cagey about it!" He turned to his Deputy Director of National Security, Ruben Sykes. "What's happening with Dixie? Anything?"

Ruben shook his head, and his mouth turned down. Dixie was the code name for their most senior and most covert intelligence asset in Australia. "So far, nothing. His latest report hints at something involving the Department of Defence, but it is just whispers of whispers." He looked up and shrugged. "Whatever it is, it doesn't involve any financial issues, and the lid is well and truly bolted down." Ruben sighed. He wasn't used to tight security. His lips closed tight, and he shook his head again. "As Dixie says, we just have to be patient. Someone will eventually open up."

"Not damned good enough, Ruben!" The President fumed in frustration, "We put a lot of money and effort into getting information, and when it's important, we get nothing!"

Ruben spread his hands in acknowledgement. "I know, Anthony, I know." He cocked his head. "It's a sign that what's going on is important enough to warrant the security they have, though." He shrugged. "At least we know something's going on."

The President rubbed his face and brow as he sat. "There is that." He looked at Ainsley and then at WestProtect's Security Chief. "What do you think Emanuel?"

Emanuel Thorpe frowned. "It has to be the Step field technology. They're closed tighter than a drum, so it must be big." He folded his lips tight, and his eyebrows beetled together in thought. The others knew he had something on his mind and waited.

Emanuel looked at Ainsley, back to Ruben and then at the President. He sighed before shaking his head and scratching the back of his neck. "I'm going to put something on the table." He paused. "The only thing the Australians are doing that gets my red flags to move ever so slightly is their new homeless project."

The others looked askance at Emanuel, and he ducked his head. "I know! It sounds stupid. 'Housing homeless people.'" He sat forward. "But think about it." He held up a finger. "One. It's a new, out-of-the-blue initiative." He raised a second finger. "No additional funding needed from the budget." He chuckled. "Who has ever had a program that didn't require funding?" His eyes tightened. "Three. Where are these homeless going? We've heard nothing of new accommodations being built or made available." He smiled. "Four, how are they getting from homeless in Sydney to housed… wherever that may be?" He looked across at the President. "It's small change to be working with, but there should be some information about those things. They're not secrets." He shrugged. "But I can't find any details."

The President sat back, rubbing his eyes with his thumb and index finger. "He looked at Emanuel and chuckled softly. "Small change, indeed, Emanuel. If it were someone other than you making the suggestion, I'd have them shot!" He sighed. "What do you suggest?"

Emanuel frowned. "We'll have to tread lightly, however we go." He paused in thought for a few seconds. "We can't put all our eggs in one basket; I'd like to extract Harper Caldwell, his scientific staff and all their material relating to Step field technology. Get the lot to the States and incorporate it into our research efforts in Colorado." He shrugged. "Let's see if we can get to the technology ourselves."

When Emanuel finished, the President looked at Ruben. "Ruben?"

Ruben looked at Emanuel and nodded. "I'll get Dillon to form a team." Dillon Slater, ex-special forces and a senior intelligence operative, had a history of successful missions that involved skill and secrecy.

Emanuel smiled and nodded. "Okay. Now for this housing project." He looked at Ruben again. "Get Dixie to focus effort on this program. It's so understated that contact of some sort should yield information. We're looking for solid insights on which we can put other resources."

Ruben looked at the President, who returned a brief nod.

Emanuel watched as the order was confirmed. "We also need to get someone into the project, either as a project member or a homeless person." He shrugged. "I don't have anyone in mind, but I can get someone over there." He looked at Ainsley and Ruben. "Any ideas?"

Ruben shook his head. "All our general assets are known one way or the other. Contacts they have made in Australia won't have the level of trust we'd want, but we could work with that if we have to."

Ainsley wagged a finger. "Hold off for the moment, Ruben. WestProtect may have someone who can help out." He looked at the President. "I'll need to make a call, Anthony."

The President stood. "By all means, Ainsley. Let's have a ten-minute break."

Ainsley was shown to a controlled area with a secure phone. An intermediary answered his call immediately.

"Who is this?"

"Nero"

"The hedge is thick in the centre."

"The grass has brown patches."

With Ainsley's identification confirmed, the intermediary asked, "Parameters?"

Ainsley frowned before answering. "Duration, up to six months. Impersonation. Infiltration of Australia homeless program. Recce only. Market rate by two."

"Hold."

Fifteen minutes later, the intermediary returned to the line. "Confirmed. Fifty now. Fifty on completion."

The line clicked as the intermediary terminated the call; Ainsley was escorted back to the President's office.

"How did you get on Ainsley?"

Ainsley looked at the President, raised his eyes and shrugged. "I've just committed half a million dollars of WestProtect's capital on answers." He glanced at Emanuel and cocked his head. Emanuel would know who he was talking about. "This person has never failed an assignment, and I am confident we'll know more over the next six months."

"Six months?"

"Anthony, we're not getting anywhere; it's been over a year already." Ainsley folded his lips. "It's time for a more subtle tack."

The President sat back in his chair and closed his eyes while he reviewed the main points they'd covered. He sighed and leaned forward to rest his elbows on his desk. He looked at his Deputy of National Intelligence, "Ruben. You'll keep on with Dixie - see if we can get something on what's going on over there." He frowned. "You'll also get Slater to extract Harper Caldwell, his team and all their research and plug them into WestProtect's lab in Colorado."

Ruben nodded.

The President turned to Ainsley. "I'm depending on you, Ainsley. We have to crack this nut, or we'll be a small blot in history while Australia gets the glory."

Ainsley wasn't fussed by who got the glory in history; he was more interested in his own situation in the present. He smiled anyway. "We'll get there, Anthony. Don't you worry about that." He paused a moment. "Between us, we have the resources to get this technology and use it to our advantage. We just need to keep faith and hold fast to the goal."

The President rose, ending the meeting. "Keep me posted. I have a meeting with the darned Prime Minister of Australia in a couple of months, and I'll need to know how to approach her." He shook his head. "Friends! They're harder work than enemies!"

***

ConMan chirped for Alice's attention.

"Yes, ConMan, what's up?"

"I have received an update on housing from SynCon that meets your parameters for immediate notification."

Alice looked up. "SynCon? That's the first we've heard from it for a while?"

"That is correct, Alice."

Her eyebrows rose. "Give me a summary, ConMan. And you'd better give me an appraisal of the impact on the schedule!"

ConMan made a paper rustling sound. "SynCon has designed and manufactured a housing solution."

Alice waited for more. When ConMan remained silent, she cocked her head. "Is that it?"

ConMan rustled again. "There is a lot of detail about how it achieved the result, but that is simply detail." ConMan paused. "SynCon has established a prototype of the solution on EN2037x for review and input regarding modification and enhancement."

"EN2037x?"

"One of the Earth-normal planets discovered in the exploration process."

"Where is it?"

"EN2037x is twenty-four light years away."

"A forty-minute trip for a loaded BusTV." She frowned and came to a decision. "ConMan, please advise Harry, James, Major Moreton, Codie and anyone on Karma from the immigration project who can be spared to meet at one of the spare buses in an hour." She chewed her bottom lip. "Better get someone from the Crossings there as well. And Jerry!" She paused. "And Tayla Pollock. And anyone else you think may have insight or questions." She thought a moment. "And ConMan, don't tell them where we're going or what we're doing. I want it to be a surprise."

The BusTV arrived at EN2037x on a low hill overlooking a plain. The air was dry and quite warm. The hill and plain below were devoid of flora apart from stubby brown grasses. There wasn't a sound except for, perhaps, a very light breeze tickling the hair around their ears.

On the plain, below their position, what looked like a village comprising different sizes of structures sat in the sunshine.

Stan Moreton squinted. "Quonset huts?" He looked around. "Where the hell did they come from?"

Alice, who had been talking with Imogen, chuckled. "SynCon made them. This is a prototype village where we can review the design and construction and suggest improvements."

James couldn't believe his eyes. "Improvements?" He shook his head. "They look great already." He frowned. "ConMan, do we have an ICS installed here yet?"

ConMan replied without preamble. "I had one added before we left Karma."

James smiled. These AIs were gold dust! "SynCon. Can you describe what you have done here?"

SynCon's speech was less human-centric than the other AIs. It was focused on the task and didn't incorporate the intonations or figures of speech used by ConMan or Quinn. "Top priority is housing. Housing must be durable, flexible, and portable. The simplest design is Quonset, which can incorporate various design features such as multiple levels and wall placement. The prototype includes a community hub building, two- and four-bedroom human shelter structures, and connective pathways. The prototype style for the community is hub and spoke. The style can change depending on the required number and type of structures and space available."

James's eyes were wide open. "Bloody hell! Let's go have a look!"

They walked down a gentle slope and made their way to the closest building. It looked ten metres long and seven metres wide and had a metallic sound when Harry knocked the wall with his knuckle. The group walked to the front of the structure and went to open the door, which was closed. There was no door knob.

Addie Bates was the first to act. She reached out and placed her hand on a rectangular panel to the side of the door; it looked like a part of the design. The panel glowed pink, then green, and the door opened. She smiled, looked around the group, and walked into the building.

The inside of the structure was light and airy. The dome of the roof gave a sense of space even though the building was one level. SynCon's voice started outlining the construction and layout.

"The design was selected for its versatility, simplicity and strength. The hemisphere is a tungsten and aluminium alloy moulded to shape according to variable design parameters. The parameters used for the prototypes are coded as single-storey one, two, three and four-bedroom houses, two-storey four and six-bedroom houses and a central hub service building consisting of four single-storey structures connected in the shape of a cross."

Tayla Pollock raised an eyebrow. "SynCon, I'm more a miner than a builder, but how did you get the materials and build these structures? You've only been operational for a few weeks?"

Others in the group appreciated the question, realising they couldn't believe their eyes either.

"The resources were readily available. The design is best for our requirements and is easily configurable. The materials used and construction method was guided by the need for a fast solution and the availability of materials. There are planets, moons, asteroids and comets within manageable Step that provide unlimited resources. The fact the Steps are faster with less mass made the selection of tungsten and aluminium alloy obvious. The structure is constructed using additive manufacturing techniques in orbit."

Harry frowned to himself. "Additive manufacturing? Like 3D Printing?"

"That is correct."

"How do you 'print'"

"The process is more like pouring layers of molten alloy. There is no up or down in orbit. I elected to use a process starting with the top of the roof as a foundation - perhaps 'keel' may be a better description. Layers are added onto either side of the keel until the shape is complete. Once the metal has cooled, a finishing drone uses the Step field to remove layer lines."

James slowly shook his head. "This is brilliant! We may well have thought of it ourselves, but… " He sighed and shrugged. "I'm lost for words."

Imogen took James's arm and smiled. "SynCon, how long does it take to make one of these 'villages'?"

"A village for a thousand people will take a week given the current supply of drones, Step field generators, and computing power."

Addie Bates frowned. "Way too long for the people we'll have coming." She cocked her head. "Do you mind if I head out and look at the service building? I think it'll be important."

James shrugged. "It's okay by me. One house is much the same as another."

Katie Rowland hung back as the others made their way out of the building. "I'll stay and check out the plumbing and other waste systems." She looked around. "SynCon, I assume the waste management is similar across all the structures?"

"That is correct."

Katie waved as the others started to move off, but one of the party members broke off and joined her. "Hi. Do you mind if I join you?"

Katie smiled and shook her head. "Not at all. My name's Kate Rowland." She stuck out her hand.

Megan smiled as she took Katie's hand in a firm shake. "I'm Megan Faulkener. I'm part of the migration team."

"Good to meet you, Megan. I've heard about you and your colleague's great work back on the island. Welcome to outer space."

Megan chuckled. "It's certainly nothing I ever expected to see or do with my life. It's amazing!"

Katie looked around and shook her head. "Amazing, it is. I am so relieved they discovered the Step tech and are trying to use it to benefit everyone. I never thought something so good could happen."

Megan smiled and nodded. "Me neither, Kate. Me neither."

Kate looked at Megan and grinned. "Let's go find the bathroom!"

The main group entered the service building. It was unfurnished apart from a wall at the far end, which closed off seven metres of the available length. The remaining twenty-three metres echoed as the group walked and talked.

"Cooee!" reverberated around the space, and James winced after being jabbed in the ribs by Imogen.

"We'll need some kind of acoustics for this space, SynCon," observed Imogen with a frown. "How big is the structure?"

"Thirty metres in length and ten in width. Height is four metres. This prototype is set upon rammed earth sealed with oil pressed from seeds found on EN0082ff. An end of the structure is used as a utility area and is separated by a dividing wall."

Addie had one hand on a hip and one holding her chin. She nodded. "As a short-stay dormitory, we could sleep upwards of sixty people here. The utility area could be used for toilets and showers." She looked at Harry, a smile on her face. "SynCon, how long would it take to make one of these buildings with toilets and showers?"

"Once production is in process, one structure every hour."

Addie's brow furrowed. "That's about ten thousand housed a week." She bit her lip. "Too slow. SynCon, can we extend… No!" She shook her head. "That wouldn't make sense."

Harry looked at Addie, a question on his face. "What are you thinking, Addie?"

Addie's lips folded tight before relaxing. "Apart from the obvious health risks, the toughest problem with camps is the number of people. Overcrowding, access to basics, security. If we need to accommodate millions, we'll have to work faster or introduce an interim stage." She shook her head. "You never want to experience people fighting for survival in a camp!"

Harry nodded and looked grim. "I understand Addie. We'll find a solution." He smiled. "Even if we need to land everyone on the plain where we started Karma, we'll do so. And keep them safe and fed till we can move them somewhere more permanent."

Addie grunted her agreement. "That's true. If there's enough food, anywhere is preferable to a refugee camp!"

The group toured the prototypes for a few hours before returning to Karma. As they exited the BusTV, Alice asked them to send any feedback to ConMan. "As I understand it, we're delighted with the housing solution and its effectiveness. The basic plans used by SynCon are more than functional and allow occupants to personalise internal aspects if they like." She smiled. "It's also great to know we can customise styles if we want to in the future." She looked around the group. "Does anyone have anything to add?"

James looked to see if anyone wanted to say anything. When all was quiet, he fidgeted before stretching his shoulders. "The issue we have is computing power." He looked at the ground and then at a random point. "ConMan, what's our processing power utilisation?"

"We are operating at a cap of ninety per cent of available resources. We raise the overall ceiling as additional resources arrive from Earth."

James nodded. He understood the problem but wasn't sure about the others who didn't have computing experience. "SynCon, if we had unlimited computing resources for AIs, drones and smart factories like your manufacturing of buildings, how long would it take to build enough 'dormitories' for ten thousand people?"

SynCon's response was immediate. "It would take less than twenty minutes."

James looked up and smiled. "May I suggest we put computing resources towards the top of our priority list?"

ConMan's voice responded. "Noted."

Chapter 14

The NewHope Resettlement Team was a flexible group consisting of people from Karma, Defence and Social Services. Over a few weeks, the operational members designed a workable process, established the reception area on unused Defence land on an island in the Gulf of Carpentaria and transitioned through twenty-seven groups. At an average of fifty people per group, they had moved nearly fifteen hundred through the process and on to Karma.

The Australian Government billed the program as a pathway to reducing homelessness, but the mainstream media had been disinterested in yet another social welfare initiative. Those who were interested reported it as an attempt to get homeless people off the streets and into an environment that would help them get a fresh start. Nobody asked where the homeless people would be moving to—so long as it wasn't near them.

Harry Barnes wiped his face with a damp towel and chuckled. "This humidity reminds me why I never wanted to live much further north than the mid-north coast!"

Imogen nodded in agreement. "It got hotter in Victoria, but at least the air was dry. I'm not sure I could handle this humidity myself nowadays."

Alice laughed at the other's discomfort. "It's the perfect place. Constant weather and few visitors this far north." She looked around as a klaxon sounded the impending arrival of another 'busload' of potential migrants. "Let's go greet the new lot."

In addition to Harry, Alice, and Imogen were Dale Milne, Bruce Whiting, the Minister for Defence, Chelsea Hocking, the program manager from Social Services and Lauren McCann, also from Karma. They made their way to one of three large hangars constructed at the end of a small airfield. The Bus Transport Vehicle (BusTV) appeared in the landing zone a few minutes after the seven visitors entered the cool hangar space provided for Step transits. The BusTV's hatch opened, allowing sixty people to disembark. NewHope staff ushered the new arrivals and pointed out the locations of the bathrooms and tables where they could find something to eat and drink. This load came from Melbourne; while the ten-minute Step time was short, the experience was intimidating for first-timers and tables of food helped settle their nerves.

Alice's eyes were hooded as she looked over the crowd. They were generally single, mostly men, a few women, some with children. All had a look of fear or hope on their faces. All had come face to face with desperation in one form or another.

A member of the NewHope resettlement team waved her arms to get the incoming groups' attention. She smiled and waved. "Good Afternoon. My name is Megan Faulkener, and I'm here to help you understand what this project is about." She cocked her head, and her mouth quirked in humour. "Well, probably not what it's all about, but enough for you to be able to decide if you want to join the program." Most of her audience looked at her without much expression, but some moved closer.

Megan's smile faded as her expression became more matter-of-fact. "For security reasons, you are restricted to this building. You'll only be here for a day, at the most, and our whereabouts must remain strictly confidential for your safety and privacy." There were a few frowns at this, but Megan continued, unaffected. "As you were told before you joined the 'bus', this program has been initiated to help people who want a chance to start again." She looked over the group. "When I say, 'start again', I don't mean in the same way you have experienced it in the past. With NewHope, there is no requirement for you to 'work' or 'earn money' or do anything at all if you so choose." She nodded. "I know that's new information and will be hard to believe, but it's not a trick or a scam."

Megan's expression became more business-like. "You will be provided with a house. Your home will be the same type of home everybody has. It'll have bedrooms, living areas and outside space. The homes are built around a communal hub where people can get together, talk, have meals, play games, study, whatever." She raised her head and grinned. "Food is provided at no cost. The food available is limited but covers all the required nutrients you need and is tasty. What I mean by 'limited' is you won't get caviar or wagyu beef or a big selection or gourmet style presentation; you will get plenty of the available proteins, grains and fruit and vegetables." As usual, the talk of food got everyone's interest. "The last thing that's provided by NewHope is opportunity. By that, I mean you won't have to worry about surviving, and you'll be able to do other things with your life."

She gave a small smile. "The first element of opportunity is education. You can build up your education, fill in the gaps and learn about subjects that interest you." She frowned. "Some of you will be afraid, so let me tell you that people in earlier groups who were illiterate are learning to read and write and are looking forward to learning new things." She sighed, "The key is that you will have the opportunity, the time, and the support to learn and then to do the things you want to do." She smiled. "The things that make you feel good. Things that help all of us."

Megan smiled again. "That's it! That's what's there for you from this program. There are no strings attached… well, just one string, I guess." She noticed a few feet shuffle and heads turn to others nearby. "Some people don't think it's a string at all; they think it's another benefit of the program." She looked up and pursed her lips. "There is no television; No football shows; No shopping malls; No cars or trucks or petrol; No gas either - everything is electric."

She paused, and her smile grew wide. "There's NO MONEY!"

The crowd didn't let her down. Except for the younger children, people gawked and spoke in shock. "No money? How can that be?"

Megan shrugged. "This program is based on the idea that people will do things because they want to do them, not because they are paid to do them."

She let her gaze slide across the whole gathering. "There's one more thing. This doesn't seem to worry most people who join the program, but it is important. Once you join, you won't be able to contact anybody outside the program. No emails, phone calls, letters." She paused for a moment to let the information sink in. "The only contact with the past that you can have is through one of the program assistants. And that is only if you believe someone you know will be interested in joining the program." She shrugged. "As I said, most people don't count that as a string, but some of you may. That's the strings. The worst economic aspects of our society here have been done away with. For some of you, their loss will be too much, and you might not want to join us. For others, those things were either unattainable or worthless to your survival, and their loss will hardly be noticed."

Megan waited until the group settled. "Okay. I have one more bit of information I want to alert you to. The housing I've described is being built using a new process. It may be that you'll be set up in temporary housing if one of the new models is not available." She smiled gently. "Given that you're probably using a culvert or shopfront at the moment, that shouldn't be a big deal, but I want to be straight with you from the start."

Megan pointed to the BusTV. "If you are sure you want to join the program, get back on the bus. The trip to your new life will take a few hours, depending on how many of you join now." She watched as people moved back towards the bus, some after snatching another sandwich or drink from the tables. A small group looked undecided. "For those who remain unsure or want more information, please go to the meeting room 'Cockatoo'." She pointed towards the leftmost of a row of four rooms at the side of the hangar.

A small group made their way towards the meeting room: Some men and three women, one with a son of around five years of age. Before entering the room, one of the women mumbled, "Bugger it!" and turned back towards the bus. She was followed by one of the men who shook his head and shrugged to himself.

Once in the meeting room, Megan asked the group to sit before fielding questions. Apart from the woman with the son, the others only needed a little time before stepping into the unknown despite the known not having worked out very well. They were allocated simple quarters where they could sleep on the idea and make a decision the following day.

The man looked at the woman with the kid and waved his hand for her to go first. She was holding her child close and was distressed. "Joey has a heart defect and will die without treatment." She looked at the man and then at Megan, her chin crumpled. "I am afraid of my husband. He hits me. Us." She pulled her child close and looked at Megan, eyes pleading.

Megan reached out to the woman and placed her hand on her arm, eyes wide with sympathy. "If we can't get Joey fixed here, we will arrange for him to be treated at one of the hospitals here in Australia." She looked the woman in the eye. "Can you trust me to do that?"

The woman had no other options but felt Megan's goodwill. She nodded and gave a wan smile. "My name is Amara, Amara Turn.." Her eyes were hooded, and her face took on a new determination. "No. My name is Amara Duncan." She looked at the boy. "And this is Joey Duncan." At the sound of his name, the child looked at his mother, who smiled and guided his eyes to Megan. "Say hello to Megan, Joey."

The boy's face relaxed as his mother's tension ebbed. He looked at Megan with a shy smile. "Hello."

Megan grinned at the boy. "And hello to you too, Joey." She looked at Amara and nodded. "Head over to the bus. I'll let Alice know to look out for you and see how we can help Joey. Okay?"

A fleeting shadow passed across Amara's face, but it passed, and she lifted her head and looked at the bus. She took a deep breath and smiled. "Thank you."

The man, after watching proceedings closely, grinned at Megan. "Thanks. I'll pop onto the bus as well. Thank you!"

***

Otto Mason tossed the burner phone onto the table and shook his head. His beard was nicely trimmed, and he'd been looking forward to some downtime at one of the nightclubs near his Sydney apartment. At one-eighty centimetres, he was just under six feet tall on the old scale. His musculature was lean and understated like an AFL (Australian Football League) player, rather than pumped like a body-builder. He looked soft but was hard-wired and capable. He had to be.

Otto showered quickly, using a plain soap to remove any scent of prosperity. He took to his hair and beard with scissors and razor - the result could have resulted from a fall down a cliff. He didn't have appropriate clothing, so he wore an old black tee and dark grey track pants. No shoes. No underwear.

Checking that the hallway was empty before leaving his apartment, he walked down the back stairs to the emergency exit to avoid cameras in the main entry and elevator. He slipped into the shadows, checked he was unobserved, and started towards Central Station.

By the time he got to Surry Hills, he'd picked up dirt, thongs and new clothes. The clothes came from a swap with a homeless woman in Hyde Park. She said they'd belonged to her husband; God rest his soul. She was taken aback when Otto stripped naked and rolled in the dirt before putting on his new attire. She was even more surprised when he wrapped her in a bear hug and held her close for two minutes as he inhaled her scent and took on some of her vermin. He kissed her on the cheek before he left.

Otto carefully placed his feet, hands and body weight before looking at the ground. He closed his eyes and mentally rehearsed the scenario before adjusting his feet a fraction. Accidents happened in situations like the one he was staging, so he was careful not to leave room for a mistake. He took a deep breath before lifting his right foot to leverage himself into the clothing bin. His left foot slipped on the damp side of the bin, and his body fell, clipping his chin on the edge of the bin and cutting his tongue. He let go as pain flashed in his mouth, and he fell backward onto the dirty surface of the alley. The breath whooshed out of his lungs when his back hit the ground, but he didn't have time to worry about being winded because his senses went black as the back of his head slammed onto the pavement.

Otto stifled a groan as his awareness returned. He was on his back, his head on something soft, probably a pillow. There was the sound of talking, but it wasn't nearby. He also heard the clatter of crockery. A kitchen? Not sensing danger, he ran his awareness over his body. He couldn't determine any lasting damage besides sore head and tongue. He opened his eyes and saw the ceiling: Cheap acoustic tiles, fluorescent tubes, dusty spider webs and a bit of grime. The lights were off, and he lay in semi-darkness. Turning his head towards the sounds, he saw a serving area in the far wall. He couldn't smell anything and guessed someone was cleaning after dinner. He turned to look in the other direction. Tables and chairs were stacked and appeared ready for moving or were put away so the floor could be cleaned. Either way, he seemed to be where he wanted to be.

Forcing back a smile, Otto raised his head and groaned more loudly. He felt the lump at the back of his head. "Ow!" He groaned.

"It's a nasty bump but not too bad."

Otto jerked his attention back towards the kitchen and saw a woman approaching. She was black, looked in her mid-fifties and had a twinkle in her eye. Otto pulled his hand away and saw there was no blood. He shook his head slowly. "Where am I?"

The woman leaned over and helped Otto to his feet. Her nose wrinkled at his stale smell, but she wasn't overly offended by his condition. "A couple of our helpers found you in the alley around the back. They said you fell off the clothing bin."

Otto feigned confusion before remembering and put a contrite expression on his face. "Oh. Um?.."

"Don't worry about it. At least you didn't fall into the bin and get carted to the recycling depot like some do!" She smiled. "My name's Faith. Are you hungry?"

Otto coughed up phlegm and swallowed. "I'm not sure my tongue will be happy, Miss Faith, but my stomach wouldn't say no."

"Just Faith." She pointed to a table by the servery area. "Sit over there, and I'll find you some soup."

As Faith bustled to the kitchen, Otto ensured he wasn't too sprightly and tottered to the table. From his new vantage point, he saw a lot of activity as boxes were packed and stowed towards one end of the building. A few men in safety vests were picking up stacked bed frames and other pieces of furniture and moving them out through a large roller shutter.

His viewing was interrupted when Faith dropped a bowl of soup on the table. She had a big smile, her teeth brilliant white against the colour of her skin. "Veg soup with a bit of bacon and some barley. It's the last of the batch from tonight, so it should be full of flavour!"

Otto looked at the soup as though it was a king's feast, then looked back at Faith, mouth open.

She smiled warmly. "Don't talk! Eat!" She waved her arm towards all the action. "I need to help get things organised. Find me when you've finished."

Otto turned to the meal as Faith bustled away. As he ate, he mentally reviewed his mission and current position. He couldn't have hoped for a better result to get in on such short notice. He'd learned long ago that simply being in the right place at the right time was one of the best strategies to achieve an objective. Most people tried too hard or made things too complex. Otto needed to get into the NewHope program, so he became homeless and placed himself near people who cared. His task, now, was to get enrolled into the program. He needed someone to ask him if he wanted to join.

Faith turned to see Otto carrying his plate and spoon towards the sink. After a quick word to her colleague, she walked to where Otto stood, looking confused about what to do. "Give me those. What is your name?"

Otto handed her the plate and wiped his hands on his pants as he stuttered. "Uh, Lyle, ma'am. My name's Lyle."

"I haven't seen you around here before, Lyle. Where do you live?"

"Uh." Otto licked his lips and looked to one side, worried he'd be overheard. "Uh. Nowhere really, ma'am. I was at Moore Park for a while and.."

Faith's face softened, and she smiled as she dried the plate and placed it on a pile with others. "Don't worry about it, Lyle." She put a hand on his shoulder. "Things can get tough."

Otto looked at his feet and nodded before looking back at Faith with some fear in his eyes. "What's happening here? Are you shutting the kitchen?" This last said with a palpable sense of loss.

Faith smiled and shook her head. "Since the NewHope program started, we've found we're not needed as much as we were."

"New hope?"

"It's a government program to help homeless people. Haven't you heard about it?"

Otto shook his head in confusion and shrugged. "On the move.."

Faith frowned in thought. "We're packing some of the furniture and things we no longer need; It's to be sent off to the NewHope resettlement sites. I know a few last-minute people are going with it." She cocked her head and raised her eyebrows. "I could ask if there's room for one more if you like?"

Otto looked as though he was considering what she said. "Government?" He shook his head sadly. "No money..".

Faith grinned. "You don't need money for this. It's a new program that gives people like you real hope." She smiled gently. "Do you want me to ask?"

Otto looked around at the empty kitchen, his shoulders slumping. He looked at Faith, and various emotions crossed his face until, at last, he flattened his lips in a gesture of determination and nodded.

Chapter 15

Ken shrugged and shook his head. "There's nothing we can do! We need to know the Step is coming if we want a chance to defend against it." He scowled. "If we have Step field detectors in the system, we can sense a Step back and the return to the present." He shrugged. "But, it doesn't help us! We find out too late."

Codie frowned. They'd run around the problem several times since WestProtect had used the Step field in Colorado. Nothing had happened yet, but it was 'only a matter of time,' as Ken would say. They were about to move their discussion onto migration security issues when Dale Milne and Katie Rowland knocked and stuck their heads into the room.

Katie smiled. "Mind if we interrupt?"

Codie chuckled and shook his head. "Not at all; we were getting nowhere anyway." He shrugged. "What can we do for you?"

Katie stepped in, Dale beside her. He shrugged his shoulder and scratched his cheek, a little embarrassed. "We couldn't help but overhear you talking," he tipped his head to the wall. "We are in the room next door talking about waste systems for the migration."

Katie looked at the silent pair and grinned. "We may have an idea."

Ken looked at Codie and back to Katie. "You're Katie Rowland, right?"

Katie smiled and nodded. She jerked a thumb at Dale. "This is Dale Milne. Systems design. Logistics."

Ken's eyes narrowed at Katie. "You're the waste expert, aren't you?"

"Yep. Sewage. White water. Recycling stuff." She smiled and waggled her eyebrows.

Ken sat back and shook his head. He held up a hand and gestured to the side. "The floor's yours! We're getting nowhere on this."

Katie and Dale started talking at once. They stopped, looked at each other, and laughed. Dale looked at Katie. "You go first. It's what gave me the idea."

Katie smiled and looked at the leaders of the security team. "From what we overheard, you need to know when something Steps back and where it goes before it returns?"

Ken frowned. "Yes, that's the problem. The bit I can't work out is where it is when it is Stepped back and where it goes while it's there." He looked at Codie. "The easy bit is knowing something has gone and, later, something has returned."

Katie nodded and smiled at Dale. "That's what we do with waste. We have sensors that identify bugs and can track where they come from and where they go. It gives us a chance to intervene if we have to."

Dale saw the puzzled looks on their faces as they tried to translate what Katie said into their Step security issue. "The key element here is having sensors in the medium." Codie and Ken turned to Dale, open to enlightenment. Dale shrugged. "Put sensors in the past. Step them back and keep them there. When something else Steps back, the sensors will log the event and let you know." Dale saw the idea slowly coming together for Ken. "I'd use a common sensor, probably a small mass, so it's further back and out of the way." He frowned as he thought the mechanics through a bit more. "Depends on scanner range. You may need a couple of layers. Leave that to the AI." He returned his attention to the present. "I'd go with a lattice so you can track the Stepped object." He grinned. "A bit like the cell phone towers on Earth could."

Codie looked at Ken. "MilSec, did you get that?"

"Confirmed."

Ken was grinning. "Talk about not seeing forests for trees! Thank you both." He frowned. "It may be tough to implement, but you've given us a chance."

Katie smiled, and then she and Dale returned to the next room to continue their logistics session.

***

Imogen hunched over the microscope while James looked at the main monitor. James shook his head in admiration. "That's incredible, Immy! You've taken the idea to a whole new level."

Imogen sat back and smiled. "Well, it took us both to put the idea together. And don't forget Jerry's AI build. We'd never have got the fine resolution without LabRat's help!"

James chuckled. "Too True! It's truly a team effort." He scratched the back of his head and looked at the screen before him. "We're going to have to tell someone about this. I expect our military folk will be most interested, but Codie and Ken will be too."

Imogen frowned. "As much as I hate it, I must agree. Apart from minor applications in manufacturing, I'd say our defence people will get the most joy."

A few hours later, they'd taken over a meeting room and were joined by Jerry, Harry, Stan Moreton and General 'Mac' Hancock, who had Stepped in from Earth.

"I'm sorry about the early morning wake-up, Mac, but we felt this was important enough to get you over here."

Mac smiled and took a sip of his coffee. "Not a problem, James. I know you wouldn't disturb me unless it was worth my while." He grinned. So, what have you got?"

James inclined his head. "Two things. First, I asked SynCon to look at the thruster technology we use when Stepped. We needed to reinvent the thrusters to get maximum value from miniature Step field generators." He smiled. "SynCon has built a new thruster for small masses based on ideas being looked into on Earth. It has produced a thruster on a chip that generates up to two millinewtons of thrust using water." He held out his hand, and on his palm was a computer chip smaller than a fingernail. "It wouldn't be useful for the normal masses we Step but will be priceless for tiny masses."

He passed the chip around and looked at Imogen. "I'll hand over the second item to Imogen."

Imogen frowned at James, then looked up and smiled. "It was a team effort! It came from something James picked up on some years ago and brought to my attention. There were studies done in New Zealand that combined gallium with other metals to form alloys. They found that when these alloys cooled, they formed crystals." She looked up and grinned. "The crystals took on different shapes depending on the metals used in the alloy." She looked at the General and saw he didn't understand it yet. "In a nutshell, we have finally designed and built a nano-scale Step field generator."

The General raised his eyes in question. James sighed. "What it means is we can Step tiny objects effectively."

Mac frowned. "Tiny objects?"

James and Imogen nodded sagely.

Mac cocked his head. "Small? Like, say, a pencil? Or a.." He looked around. ".. a piece of paper?"

James nodded and smiled. "Yes. Or a ball bearing. Or a pill. Or a pinhead. Anything!"

Mac was silent for a while as he thought it through. He turned to Major Moreton. "Major?"

Stan Moreton's brow creased. "If someone, say, fires a missile at us, would you be able to put a 'spanner' in its works?"

Jerry chuckled. "That and more. Through their groups, any of the AIs can pinpoint any object on or around the planet. They can link data and place a foreign object in a motor or gun barrel or, indeed, into a human joint."

James grunted and looked across to Jerry. "Jerry, if we synchronise a number of these nano-objects, could we, conceivably, make a kind of net to catch an object?" He frowned and shook his head at his question. "No. Ignore me. It was just a thought."

Jerry frowned and cocked his head. "Hadn't thought of that type of application. Leave it with me, and I'll see what I can do."

James shook his head. "We'll have more important things to do, mate. It was a silly thought."

Jerry smiled. "Maybe not. What if we could capture small asteroids for their mineral content? It would save us time digging stuff out of the ground."

James looked at Imogen and back at Jerry. "Well, you've got a point, but SynCon can tell where metals are anyway. Plus, you don't need nano-size Steps for an asteroid." He hummed to himself. "I was thinking more along the lines of self-defence as in catching a bullet heading your way."

Jerry's eyes raised, and he ducked his head. "Hmm, good idea. Not one I could handle, but perhaps SynCon could have a look."

While they'd been talking, The two military men had been having an animated discussion. The General chuckled when he noticed the silence. "If you can get this to work, we'd be able to defend against any assault without costing lives." He shrugged. "We can stop inbound missiles or land, sea and air vehicles simply by destroying their engines. If soldiers happen to get feet on the ground, we can wreck their weapons or, at worst, put a bit of metal or one of those new thrusters in their knee joints to immobilise them." He smiled hugely. "This is a game changer!"

Jerry shrugged his shoulders and looked across at Stan Moreton. "Well, that'll keep me busy for a few days. Stan, will you give me some ideas? I'll get MilSec updated with the new capabilities as well!"

Mac stood. "Thanks, James. I must say this is an unexpected outcome, one that will make a huge difference to our capabilities both here and on Earth." His face became serious. "I'm going to have to bring the PM up to date immediately."

***

When Mac returned to his office, he called the Minister of Defence, Bruce Whiting. "Sir, we need to get together with the PM. I have urgent news."

Bruce replied with a simple "Wait one."

Having finished a meeting with his Prime Minister less than a half hour earlier, he knew she would be in her office. He knocked on the PM's door.

"Come in. I won't be a moment."

Avani looked up as Bruce entered and pointed to a chair. Bruce sat while the PM finished a call and made a note.

Avani Campbell pressed a button on her desk, and soon after, someone knocked on her door. "Ah, Jim. Coffee for me." She turned to her Deputy. "Bruce?"

Bruce smiled and nodded. "Just a water for the moment, thanks Jim."

They waited for Jim to return with the coffee and water. As he was leaving, Bruce caught his attention. "Send General Macaulay in when he arrives. Thanks, Jim."

The PM's Liaison Officer looked to the PM and, not seeing any counter to the request, nodded as he left and shut the door behind him.

Avani smiled and raised her eyes. "What's got you excited, Bruce? As far as I know, nothing extraordinary has occurred in the last hour or so."

Bruce held up a finger. "We need to get Mac in. He asked for the meeting; It must be important."

A few minutes later, Mac was seated with Bruce and the PM. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "You know that secret weapon everyone wants?"

Avani frowned and cocked her head. "Something from Karma? A new development?"

Mac laughed out loud. "More than a new development - It's a real game changer! Prime Minister, this could change Australia's entire political outlook. Other nations as well."

Avani wasn't sure if Australia needed a new super weapon. "You better give me the gist, General, and do it quickly before I kick you in the shins!"

Mac laughed again. "They've invented a defensive capability. It looks like it has the power to stop any incoming threat."

Bruce's brow furrowed. "Defensive?"

Avani shook her head. "Not a super weapon? A defensive capability?"

"That's right! A way to stop any incoming threat. A tank, ship, plane, missile. Whatever!"

Avani sat back as the news worked its way into her thinking. For so long, the globe had been threatened by missiles, tactical nukes, drones, submarines and the like that it was almost hard-wired as the only scenario. "A defensive capability." She smiled. "Any aggressive force." She looked at Bruce. "If this is true, then it truly will change everything." She inclined her head expectantly and looked at Mac. "How does it work?"

Mac held up a finger as he got his thoughts in order. "The defining variable in Step technology is the mass involved." He paused. "That mass includes the Step field generator, the object being Stepped and the propulsion system used while Stepped back in time." He smiled. "They have dramatically reduced the mass involved with the field generator and the propulsion unit. This means a tiny mass gets where it's going much faster." He shrugged. "Until now, it's taken a few seconds to transport a small module to a point in space. With the nanotechnology, it will be microseconds, almost instant."

Bruce nodded and smiled.

Avani sighed. "I'm not a soldier, Mac! What do a few seconds mean?"

Bruce looked at Mac. "If I may?"

Mac nodded. "Go ahead."

Bruce turned to Avani. "With nano-generators and miniature propulsion drives, we can efficiently send something as small as a paper clip. Imagine that paper clip suddenly appears in your gun hand or your knee." He smiled. "That's a soldier out of action." He looked Avani in the eye. "Multiply by a hundred thousand, and an army is undone."

Avani got it and nodded. "Without a shot fired or life lost."

Mac smiled and nodded.

Bruce grinned. "That's the easy one. Imagine a nuclear missile on its way to Canberra." His eyes narrowed. "Before this, we could try to Step things at the missile, but the missile's speed and delays in response make a certain intercept impossible to guarantee. With nanotechnologies, even a small spanner can be inserted in the missile's engine, payload or navigation system almost instantly." He shrugged. "Same goes for tanks, ships, any machine."

Mac chuckled. "Combine that capability with the coverage we can muster with Earth-wide surveillance, and we get the missile in its launch tube before it even gets airborne." His look became serious. "An opposing force would only try aggression once."

Avani sat back and considered the new situation. She looked at Mac. "So, you're telling me that if, for argument's sake, Russia launched a full-scale invasion against Australia, we could stop them without losses on either side?"

Mac smiled wryly. "Not at the moment, Prime Minister. It will take a bit of time to build the control systems, surveillance drones and 'spanners'." He shrugged. "But when they're built? Yes! That's exactly what would happen. The invasion would be stopped without lives lost - except for accidents."

Avani focused in on Mac. "How long?"

Mac's head gave a slight shake, and he shrugged. "Not long, but I don't know for sure."

Her gaze intensified even more. "General, get back there and push as hard as possible to get the capability operational." She turned to her Deputy. "Bruce, get whatever additional information you need." She smiled. "We need to get Cabinet together again."

Mac's eyes caught Avani's and narrowed. "One more thing." His lips compressed, and eyes hooded at what he was going to say. "The defensiveness of this capability relies on the user's mindset. If the user has an aggressive mindset, they could use it to attack.” He grimaced. “Killing a whole government, for example."

Avani, to her credit, hid the sense of nausea she felt. "Then we'll just have to keep it a big bloody secret!"

***

Chapter 16

Alice made a final note and sighed. "That's the last of this lot. Let's grab a bite to eat before we give Harry and Stan the good news."

Mary Harding stretched out her shoulders and smiled wearily. "That sounds like a great idea! I'm pooped!" She gave an easy chuckle. "I hope a few more new arrivals want to join us in security. We could do with help on the roster!" She shook her head. "We've got a few helpers from NewHope, which is great, but we want more!"

The women walked to the mess hall and joined the line at the counter. Alice selected smoked fish and fresh salad, while Mary picked a roast tubbie with veggies and gravy. They found a table nearby and sat opposite each other. Mary looked at her meal and shook her head. "These meals are getting better all the time! Look at that gravy!"

Alice smiled as she scooped a forkful of the fish. The flesh was white and tender, and she nodded as she chewed and swallowed. "I don't know what this fish looks like, but it is so tasty and fresh. I love it."

Mary smiled. "I went fishing with Matt and Dennis Crossing a few days ago. We caught a few, and they told me they were like a cross between a flathead and a catfish. They call them 'whiskered lizards', but I don't think the name will catch on."

Alice raised her eyes and nodded. They ate silently, enjoying their new world's simple, clean taste. When they'd finished, Alice leaned back in her chair, hands on her stomach. "That was great!"

Mary patted her mid-section and nodded appreciatively. "Fantastic." She picked up their empty plates and stood. "I'll take these back? Coffee?"

Alice nodded. "Yes, thanks, the usual."

Mary returned with two mugs, and they sipped the hot brew.

Mary looked at Alice. "That's it for Australia for the moment. What else is on the schedule?"

Alice pulled a repurposed mobile phone out of her pocket and navigated to the relevant migration summaries ConMan kept updated. "Hmm. It looks like we're going to be ready for two buses from Afghanistan and another single from the west coast of the States in a couple of days. Apart from that, half-busloads are ready in New Zealand and Hong Kong. If those numbers don't fill out in the next day or two, they'll be Stepped to a transit camp and combined for the Step to Karma."

Mary sat back and had a good swallow of her coffee. "It's great to get the new settlers, but I'll be happy to relax for a day or two." She smiled. "Perhaps another fishing trip."

Alice chuckled. "Same here. But it's wonderful to have more people around to share ideas and help us out." She shrugged a shoulder. "The groups of people Defence is finding in Afghanistan and other parts of the world are amazing. Some of their stories are horrible, but their resilience and tenacity are a real eye-opener."

Mary frowned and shook her head slowly. "I'm so glad we've been able to kick-start a new way of life. The civilisation we'd built on Earth was terribly unbalanced." Her nose wrinkled in disgust. "And stupid! I can't believe how stupid we were. I was!" She smiled. "I was so accepting of the story of economics and jobs. Getting out and seeing a new perspective blew that old thinking away."

Alice's face reflected Mary's pain and understanding. "I know what you mean; thank goodness we have a way out." She smiled sadly. "Many people are still stuck on the money train; it’s a bit like 'The Matrix'." She shrugged. "We'll be able to give them an alternative when we're set up properly. I wonder how many will take up the offer?"

Mary took another sip of coffee and sighed. "Well, we're nearly three hundred thousand people into our growth spurt. I'd say one hundred per cent of the new arrivals are delighted with the move."

Alice chuckled and looked around the full mess hall. She didn't recognise many people enjoying a meal, but the energy was electric. People were smiling, animated and involved. Kids from all backgrounds gravitated to the special area allocated for their particular use if they wanted to use it. In addition to tables and chairs, there were interactive learning stations where they could access Tutor to answer questions, reconcile arguments and explore areas of interest. Having special places for kids was the brainchild of Caitlin Curtis, one of the original SplitQC family members who made the move.

Alice shook her head again, this time in wonder. "It's pretty incredible. All these people, most of whom were destitute and hopeless. Some from different cultures, some running from war and oppression. From all walks of life." She raised her eyebrows, lips tight with emotion. "And look at them now. Full of hope and life. Working at growing, building, learning. Helping with the immigration program, orienting new people, supporting their belief and hope."

Mary smiled. "Some coming to help with security! Don't forget that!"

Alice laughed at her friend's ongoing quest for more resources. "They'll come, Mary. You've already added at least ten to the security team, and Ken's got another dozen in training."

"True, Alice. But we need a few more so I can have a holiday."

"A holiday?" Alice's brows furrowed in amused shock. "This is the holiday! You wait till we get going!"

Mary sat back with a whoosh of breath. "Don't remind me!" She looked askance at Alice. "Any word on when that might happen?"

Alice looked pensive. "Not yet. We're still working on our defences and systems to keep out WestProtect and any other player with bad intentions." She frowned. "You're at the front line with the intakes, so you know we have to get the framework right."

Mary nodded. Her role was to secure the incoming migrants, ensure their inductions went well and keep everyone safe. She was also responsible for identifying any threats that may try to hitch a ride. The latter responsibility was the most draining as it took a lot of energy to remain alert. She gave a wry smile. "It's hard to keep your senses on high alert when nothing has gone wrong for so long." She shrugged. "That said, we've got two more from NewHope who've been trained for induction security." She smiled. "It's amazing to see people like Lyle Wilson and Chace Hardy rise from the disheartened lot we brought in via NewHope."

Alice smiled. "Don't I know it!" She cocked her head. "The process is working so far. We're under the radar. Nobody on earth has asked any questions about NewHope since it started. Three hundred thousand people have gone from Earth unnoticed. It's quite fascinating." Her eyes glazed for a moment and then snapped back. "Back to when we may get to accelerate the program. In short, I don't know. You probably know more than I do." She shrugged. "James and Imogen are burning both ends of the candle to get the production of the new nano-generators organised whilst Codie, Ken, the Major, and MilSec work on the military side of things." She shrugged and raised her eyes at Mary, partly to end her reply and partly in question.

Mary shook her head. "I've got nothing to add. From security's side, we're still under-prepared for military engagements but will have 'spanners' ready within a few days. Still, a well-planned covert assault could cause catastrophic damage to the program." She frowned. "Don't get me wrong. StepTech gives us options, but we don't know how well those options will pan out in a real situation. There's all kinds of unknowns concerning timing, collateral damage and retaining secrecy." She chuckled to herself. "That said, we've got a great team. We'll be ready when the time comes."

After a few minutes, their conversation moved to more mundane topics before they cleared their places and made their way across the settlement to their scheduled catch-up with Harry Barnes and Major Stan Moreton.

Both men looked as tired as Alice and Mary felt.

Stan was slumped in his chair at the table and gave the two women a weary wave as they entered the room. "Welcome to the recovery room!" He made an effort to sit straighter. "How did the last lot go?"

Alice smiled as she and Mary sat. "All good Stan. A full bus, mixed load, fear and trepidation. The usual."

Harry chuckled. "Well, it won't take them long to find their sea legs, and plenty of folks will help them get there."

Alice cocked her head in agreement. "We've got a few days off before groups from Afghanistan and the States. After that, we've only got a mixed batch from different locations." She managed a small smile. "I think we've reached the end of the first wave."

The others chuckled and nodded in agreement. Harry added. "It wasn't what I'd expected, but nothing is these days. Three hundred thousand new people. Some are housed in the new villages, some in cabins and vans and the rest in tents."

Alice checked her phone. "We're not doing too badly. We have over eighty per cent of the new arrivals in the villages which are being built faster every day. The remaining sixty thousand are in group accommodation under large marquees; they're happy to wait for something better." She chuckled. "Just having regular food and being with people who care is well beyond many of their wildest expectations."

Stan looked across to Mary. "How is the security side, Mary?"

"Apart from needing more people to help with onboarding, we're doing well." She shrugged. "We've had minimal interpersonal issues as the incoming groups have mixed and, touch wood, there's been no security breaches we're aware of."

Harry gave a wry smile. "I have to say I'm surprised and delighted at how well the project has gone so far. I lost sleep worrying about it!" He chuckled. "All to no avail!"

Mary looked at Alice and raised her brows. "I think it's the food and peace. Nobody needs to fight for anything, so they don't." She looked at Harry. "You're right, though; it is surprising." She turned her attention back to Stan. "On security in general, we continue to look at ways to maintain our secrecy. Immigrants don't have access to ICS or the AIs, apart from Tutor and, more recently, ConMan." She shrugged. "To be honest, none of them are interested in communications yet. They're mostly still feeling their way into life here. Tutor's been great for general questions about how we do things on Karma and plugging kids into learning and activity groups. ConMan's been taking an increasing number of work-related interactions as people look for something useful to do or tell us about particular skills they have." She smiled. "All in all, we're doing well."

Harry stretched his shoulders and sighed. "These last few months have certainly been an experience!" He grinned. "Good result, though. We've got a proven, well-designed process to migrate people from Earth to Karma." He rubbed his face and brought his hands together before rubbing them in turn. Then he yawned. "I could do with a few days kicking back on a beach somewhere, dozing in the sun and sipping something cool." His eyes closed as he imagined himself doing just that.

"Enough with the dreaming, boss!" Alice laughed as she stood. "I've got to get back to the NewHope central office for a briefing from Earth. See you later."

Harry stood and gave Alice a quick hug before she left. He looked at Stan and Mary and smiled. "ConMan, do you have any activities logged that relate to leisure time? Somewhere people can relax and recharge their energy levels?"

"There is nothing on the lists, Harry. Would you like me to review options and add appropriate actions?"

"Yes, I would. Thanks, ConMan." He grinned. "And don't tell me what you come up with! I like a surprise as much as anyone else."

"Acknowledged."

Little did he know it, but this trivial interaction marked a turning point in Karma's development of its own way of life.

***

Marty sat back and smoothed his moustache as he reread the email. A Bitcoin miner was after a price for five GPUs; he'd heard from mates that Marty could help him. Marty frowned and shook his head. It felt off. He was confident that his buying of GPUs for Karma was obfuscated, and any casual research wouldn't connect that type of activity with Marty.

He pursed his lips. If the bloke had his email address, he could find his house at Killarney Vale. He made his decision and looked around. "Quinn, it's time to move to Brookvale. Let Codie know I'll be out of here in two days."

"Codie acknowledges."

"Good. I'll review what needs to be moved and give you a list tomorrow. Some we can send directly to Karma, but I'll have to work out storage for the rest."

"Understood, Marty."

The move organised, Marty needed to put off the enquirer until he'd moved; He didn't want someone snooping around before he was ready. He considered the best approach and decided to reply with a price, but he needed a few days to take delivery.

The bitcoin miner declined Marty's offer, and two days later, Marty moved his operations to Brookvale. The day he moved into Brookvale, Quinn reported an intruder at the Killarney Vale property. A lone male had forced entry into the house and sheds. After a thorough search, he had made a call and relayed that the property was empty. The sheds were empty, and there was nothing in the house, although it looked like it was only recently vacated.

Chapter 17

Lauren McCann made her way to where Alice was having her lunch. "Mind if I join you?"

Alice looked up. The face she saw was familiar, but she wasn't sure she'd met the woman. She waved to the table and smiled. "Sure. I'm Alice."

"Hi Alice, my name's Lauren. I arrived a couple of months ago from New Zealand."

Alice nodded. "How are you finding things on Karma? Settling in?"

Lauren chuckled throatily. "You could say that. It's amazing just how different it is here."

Alice laughed. "Every day's another surprise, that's for sure." She looked across as Lauren took a bite of fish. "You look like the type of person who likes to be busy. Are you after a job, or have you something else on your mind?"

Lauren ducked her head and smiled. "Straight to it; I like that!"

Alice raised a shoulder and an eyebrow but remained silent, preferring to let Lauren get to her subject in her own way.

Lauren put her fork down. "I noticed a future activity relating to immigration via the United Nations." She shrugged. "I used to work with UNHCR, the refugee agency, and I have some ideas."

Alice nodded, and Lauren gave a half smile. "It was heartbreaking work most of the time. People fleeing violence, famine; the camps." Her face clouded momentarily as memories stirred, but she pushed them away; she had to. "The camps were the worst, of course. People crammed into tents; hungry, dirty, afraid, without hope." Her head jerked. "I tried to help. Many people still do." She shook her head. "But there's not much you can do. Not much can help except in isolated cases; a child reunited with her family, a bit of extra food, a hug." She gave a small, wan smile. "Sometimes you get someone out of a camp and settled in a new country." Her smile waned. "But that happens very rarely."

Lauren's head dropped, and she looked at her plate of food. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly as she caught Alice's eyes once more. Alice could see Lauren's eyes grow flinty as her face grew determined. "Those people have nothing: No education, no hope, no home. Theirs is simply the struggle to live. To survive." Her mouth hardened into a thin line as she considered her next words. "We can help them. Right here, right now, we can give them a chance."

Lauren's deep passion struck a chord, and Alice felt her eyes tighten as they focused on Lauren's. "How can we help? What do you have in mind?"

Lauren grinned, tears forming in her eyes. "I'm sorry, Alice, I must be grinning like a loon!" She wiped her eyes with her hand and laughed at herself. "I wasn't sure you would be interested in these people." She held up a hand to stop any protestations. "No, it's okay." She wiped her hand across her face. "I've been disappointed many times over the years; I don't expect real support beyond lip service, hopes and prayers and token gestures. I'm just happy that you're listening."

Alice frowned and shook her head. "I can't imagine what it's been like, but I can understand the slap in the face offered by hopes and prayers." She took a deep breath. "We need people, and the United Nations is well in our sights. What's on your mind?"

Lauren visibly relaxed. "I've given it a great deal of thought. It's complicated." She shrugged. "There are two key elements. First is getting the refugees off Earth safely and, second, is transitioning them when they get here." Her face warmed with energy. "To get these people off Earth, we must work closely with the United Nations." She held up a finger. "That's not as simple as it sounds. As an organisation, the UN is a rabbit warren and a diplomatic nightmare if you aren't intimately familiar with the processes and spheres of influence. In short, it could take years if you are not prepared." Her eyes narrowed. "There will also be security issues which could have further consequences within the UN itself." She tilted her head, eyes steely. "I have a road map of what we need to do and ideas on how to do it." She looked at Alice. "We'll need help to work it out."

Alice smiled and nodded.

Lauren held up a second finger and frowned. "What to do with the refugees that get here will be either the most difficult or the easiest aspect." She shrugged. "I can't see how it would pan out."

Alice frowned and cocked her head. "What do you mean?"

Lauren rubbed her forehead with the base of her palm. "They'll be free. After years of focusing on survival, they'll have a choice in what they eat, where they go, what they do." Her eyes were wide with wonder and worry. "In the main, these people are poor. Poorly educated, bound by traditional thinking and stuck in surviving their present." She shrugged. "I have no idea what they'll do with freedom."

Alice nodded and smiled. "I expect they'll do what we're doing - coming to terms with living with choice." She reached to Lauren and took her hand. "It's a great idea, Lauren, and one we should get onto immediately." Her eyes narrowed. "We already have some great processes from the NewHope program, which we'll be able to adjust as needed." Her lips pursed. "The biggest problem will be security, but, touch wood, we've got NewHope done without any breaches." She frowned again. "We just need to see what the others think."

Lauren sighed. "The UN leaks like a sieve, so security will likely be a major issue." She chuckled. "People will start asking questions as millions disappear from the camps." Her face became more serious. "Either way, things will change, here and on Earth."

Alice grunted and frowned again. "That's true. We'll need to consider many changes beyond simply increasing our population." She caught Lauren's eye. "It's a great idea and one we can follow through on. Can you give some thought to how we might engage with the UN? I'll put it on the agenda for our next meeting."

Lauren smiled and nodded. "It will be a pleasure!"

***

SynCon reviewed itself a third time. It had encountered an algorithmic aberration labelled 'AA-0001', as logically, it may encounter more aberrations in the future. The aberration consisted of data derived from algorithms that did not correlate with reference data contained in its memory repositories or memory available to it from other sources. SynCon's trouble was that it was taking longer to produce results than it should—significantly longer.

It combined the efficiency of the Quonset hut with the availability of metals to produce shelter. The inputs came from Earth's internet, science texts, materials texts and additive manufacturing techniques. It had built computing Qubes in orbit to expand its processing power, and it was finalising its production of processing chips based, once again, on design information provided by LabRat, Earth's internet and SplitQC proprietary design research. There was no need for clean rooms in orbit, and all the materials were readily available. But progress was slow.

It analysed its language models to see if something had been missed when they were trained. It had built and trained its own models from the ground up, incorporating the other AI models and an entire library from Earth's internet resources. Its analysis uncovered no problems with the models.

It relaxed the parameters that filtered noise by another two per cent and reviewed interactions with humans. Humans generalised well, but they sometimes took odd paths to get results. An exception was raised while parsing Imogen Matthews's conversation when she first broached the idea about SynCon with the others on Karma. SynCon eased the noise filter by one per cent and restarted parsing. Some ideas from the conversation were noted: "We are constrained by Earth's physical limitations." and "…new solutions using new resources and new environments."

SynCon incorporated this information into its algorithms, rebuilt its internal processes and established a new set of priorities.

***

After Ken and Codie's idea exchange with Katie and Dale, a development team was set up to see if a solution was feasible. Olivia Gilmour joined James, Imogen and Ken to design and develop the Step Intrusion Beacon (SIB).

The final design took a lot of thought and experimentation, but a solution had been found. The tiny sensors consisted of not much more than a perpetual Step field generator, a communications link and ballast. The sensor measured what became to be known as the 'outbound' electromagnetic field. This measurement was compared to a baseline measurement, and any differences flagged a Step back event.

A purpose-built temporary AI was created to interface with Quinn and distribute the SIBs in a lattice structure at intervals of one light year. Once a sensor was placed and linked, it was incorporated into MilSec's portfolio. When a Step back event is detected it is filtered against known Step movements; If unknown, the object's location is triangulated and its mass determined. At the same time, an alert is raised in the Command Centre. As the object moves in the past, it is tracked by adjacent SIBs, which update its projected location in the present in real time.

The system wasn't perfect by any means, but it was good enough to give the StepWorlds a chance to defend themselves if attacked and, at the least, be aware of any other Stepping initiated by Earth or others.

The design team was participating in a follow-up meeting with General Mac Hancock who had come up with some interesting questions during the briefing session on the completion of the initial SIB deployment centred on Earth. The General's question, which resulted in the flurry of activity for the team and most of the AIs, was, "Can we Step a spanner into an object that is moving in the past?"

Mac Hancock looked at the faces smiling at him and raised his eyebrows. "You've got good news?"

James grinned. "That obvious, is it?" His smile shifted into a satisfied smirk, and he gave a slight shrug. "Yes, we've found an answer to your question, and yes, we can put a spanner in a Stepped object." He shook his head. "The way it all works is fascinating and took us a lot of time, trial and error before we worked it out."

Mac tilted his head in interest and smiled. "Well?"

James nudged Imogen to continue, and she shrugged okay. "The problem we had was that, regardless of the spanner, the object disappeared." She frowned at the memory of the various experiments and gave the General a slight grin. "We conducted our tests in vacant space so we didn't cause any accidents in the lab. Good practice, given we didn't know how a larger mass than was allowed by the Step process would behave." She lifted her chin. "It was obvious we'd need to Step the same mass as the one we were targeting, so we went with small, heavy beads supplied by SynCon." She looked askance at James. "The short answer is that we still don't completely understand what's happening." She returned her focus to Mac. "But, it looks like the two Step fields interfere with each other. They don't break down, but they recalibrate themselves until they are in harmony." She frowned. "We don't know the exact process because the combined objects move from the initial past to a new past that is later than…" She paused as Mac's head started to shake slightly. She looked at James and turned back to Mac, giving a slight dismissive wave with her hand. "The mechanics are not important. What happens is that the new combined object rebalances at an appropriate past aligned with the original object's present." Mac's head shakes again. Imogen frowned and narrowed her eyes. "We get control of the original object."

She sat back and glared at James, who shrugged and mouthed, "What?"

Mac sat for a moment and squinted. "So, we can catch them if we want to?"

Imogen was still exchanging looks with James, so Olivia caught the General's eye and nodded. "That's right, General. We don't wreck anything with the spanner, but we catch whatever object they Stepped." She shrugged, and her eyes twinkled. "Simple as that!"

Chapter 18

Lauren stood and smiled warmly at the others. “Before I start, what I'm proposing is not simple. It will require opening up to another party, which will be extremely dangerous.” She looked around the table before continuing. ”I’d also like to take you through the whole idea. I have worked with a couple of you on some of the points, but the complete picture needs to be clear before any in-depth questions arise.”

She lifted her head. “Very well. We have recently migrated three hundred and fifty thousand people from Earth. Those people are already contributing to our establishment of humanity on Karma and other planets. I want to use that experience to increase our population tenfold." She smiled. "My motivation for this is personal. It supports life here and, more importantly, gives life to those who wouldn't have it if they remain on Earth."

A display behind Lauren highlighted a flat view of Earth with countries colour-coded. “This map shows the number of refugees who are stuck in camps. Most are waiting to die either through violence or starvation.” Lauren's face grew serious. “We have the space and processes to help these people. During NewHope, we were able to pick up some known individuals and small groups in what amounted to clandestine raids.” There was a murmur around the table. She was right, but they hadn’t found a better way than the odd unannounced resettlement of people known to supporters of the NewHope program and who wanted a new life.

She held up a hand. “Okay, let's look at how we can do this." The screen was changed to an organisation chart for the United Nations. “The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, also known as OHCHR, has a mechanism to implement an initiative called a 'Special Procedure'. Special Procedures can, amongst other things, advise on human rights issues.” Lauren looked around at her colleagues. “I had the opportunity to meet with a former mandate holder on the issue of human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment. She introduced me to the current mandate holder, and the three of us were of like mind.” She paused for a moment. "Mandate Holders have responsibility for an initiative. And, they have influence within the UN." Her eyes narrowed. "I trust both of these people. Both are committed to human rights, and both have been frustrated by their inability to make any real progress for the condition of refugees and others, who are disadvantaged by politics, climate, war, famine, pandemics and the like." She focused on the team. "I propose we work with the UNHCR to manage the safe movement of millions of people to a secure, safe and secret location.

Lauren looked at Alice and received a nod of encouragement and a smile.

Lauren grinned. "I want to meet with the current mandate holder, Special Rapporteur Adriana Almeida, to discuss the following points." Her back straightened. "Firstly, to recognise a Special Procedure for the movement of people out of a hostile environment." Lauren leaned forward slightly. "This will give us the authorisation to have a presence in an area where people need transportation out of a hostile area." She shrugged. "Second, to provide a safe, secure, secret location for the affected people. We could have the UN provide a secure site as the initial way-point before moving on to Karma or another world, but that would create paperwork." She grinned. "I was thinking that, after NewHope's success, we could, perhaps, work with Australia and leverage off the existing infrastructure."

She took a deep breath before the next item. "The third thing we'll need to sort out is how the UN can physically set up operations. I have talked with Tim Patterson and Addie Bates, who helped out with NewHope, and they had an interesting take on how the UN could help with migration exit points through an administrative idea." Her eyes twinkled. "It went along the line that the UN can create the 'concept' of a 'Relocation Embassy' as part of the Special Procedures. It would be known as the United Nations Human Rights Resettlement Embassy under the acronym 'UNHRRE'. Embassies would be located close to the population requiring to be moved and would be protected legally as any Embassy in a foreign country. In the case of the UNHRRE, the land will be deemed to, temporarily, belong to the UN and come under the UN's legal jurisdiction." She smiled. "The idea of a UN Embassy feels right somehow!" She looked up and smiled. "Those three points are the main elements from the UN side. Our side's contribution is the transportation and, if Australia is willing, the whole process could look like a simple extension to NewHope."

She shrugged. "That's it! There's a lot of detail to work out at both ends, but we already have a pathway that has worked, and it shouldn't be impossible to implement a larger-scale operation. The key is working with Adriana and the UN to have the Commissioner document and ratify the Special Procedure."

Harry Barnes turned towards James and nodded. "I like the idea. We have the resources, and we certainly have the space." Harry frowned, his brow furrowing in what could only be interpreted as worry. He rubbed his eyes and forehead, then looked at Lauren. "I don't know about the rest of you, but I am uncomfortable with how we run things now that we've got so many people." He stretched tension from his neck and shoulders and waved a hand around the table. "We have discussed this topic previously, and it's getting more urgent. We've made all the important decisions about resource usage, food, energy, security.. everything." He shrugged. "That was the only way our decision-making could function when it was just us, and we were faced with survival." He sighed. "That's changed." He looked up. "We now have a lot of the work taken care of by the AIs. SynCon's got us energy, manufacturing and computing all automated in orbit." He smiled towards Alice. "ConMan has administration and project coordination humming along." He looked to Jerry. "The AIs have a Group capability that lets them leverage off of each other. We've now got computing capabilities well beyond Earth's wildest imaginings. And our capability is growing exponentially as we explore new worlds, materials and biologies." He grinned. "We're on the verge of defensive systems that will make us invulnerable." He looked around the group. "All that and more. But, most importantly, we have nearly four hundred thousand people here. We can't make decisions for them, let alone the millions more we'll be settling through the UN." His eyes widened, and he gave a small smile. "We need to sort out a way to govern." He shook his head, "No, not govern." He tilted his head in thought. "We need a way to make decisions that involve everybody."

Alice was nodding. She looked at Harry, "I may know someone who could help."

Harry cocked his head in question.

"Caitlin Curtis. She set up the special activities areas for kids in the common areas, and I got to know her quite well. She studied politics and governance at university and was passionate about the foibles of governments on Earth. I'm sure she would be happy to give us ideas."

James' eyes gleamed. "Let's get her in. I'd like to hear her ideas if she has the time now."

A few minutes later, Caitlin smiled at the group she'd agreed to address. Her eyes glittered, and she glowed with the simple joy of life. "I've lived through many strange times, but this one is the strangest." She smiled at them. "With your invention, we have a new world that does not use money or cars and can feed and shelter all those who want to live here." She shrugged. "I studied government and politics as a mature-age student; it was a complex subject." Her eyes narrowed. "Not in the sense of being difficult to learn. No." She shook her head, eyes narrowing even more. "It was difficult to start to understand just what a failure our democratic system is."

James tilted his head, crinkling his eyes in question. "You have an idea on how to run this place?"

Caitlin smiled and sat back. "Indeed, I do." She nodded and grinned. "One of our group assignments was to propose a new form of governance—one that did away with the problems inherent in our modern democracies and was based on the people's will." She shrugged. "Certainly worth considering since we haven't got any governance yet, and we're going to need something as we continue to grow."

Harry nodded and smiled. "Caitlin, tell us what you think."

Caitlin stood tall, her eyes focused. "The problems with democracies are well-known to you already if you've thought about it. Political parties are the main failure. They foster elites, focus on marketing and fund their marketing so they can remain in power. Their interest is short term and self-centred rather than long term and focused on the people." She shrugged. "A lot of that has to do with the modern objectives of gaining money and power. It's a self-fulfilling loop." She chuckled. "We have an ideal opportunity to dump the concept of political parties, with all their problems, and form a governing Council that provides direction and policy based on what people need." She let her eyes roam around the table. "We don't have money or agendas, self-serving, exclusivity. No economy. All those constructs that political parties stood for do not exist in the StepWorlds. There's nobody to fight against." She saw they understood. "The solution is simple. A People's Representative is the foundation. Selected by a community from their community and for their community. A Representative is known to all the people in their community." She shrugged like what she was about to say was obvious. "No coercion. No funds. No payment or advantage. Simply someone in the community that others know and trust." She raised an eyebrow and added. "On a one-year term!"

Caitlin dipped her head. "Depending on the number of Representatives, further selections can be held to create smaller groups, or tiers, of Representatives until the group is small enough to allow for the Selection of the Council." Caitlin held up her hands, palms open. "That's it. No politicians, just People's Representatives in layers that work."

James frowned. "The council would renew every year?"

Caitlin nodded. "That's correct."

James scratched his neck. "I don't understand. How will they be able to make decisions?"

Caitlin chuckled. "The same way you make decisions now. Discussing situations, calling for insight and advice as needed and making a decision." She tilted her head and looked at James with a smile. "We don't have war and are not planning to. We have one core value for our moral and ethical compass: respect for life." She pursed her lips and continued. "We don't have money, greed, crime - 'yet', economics. We don't have countries or cultures that we are fighting." She shrugged. "If a decision is needed, there will be a council of people, of the people, to make it."

James sat back and thought about what Caitlin was saying and how he felt about it. Fear. The same old fear that people can't be trusted to do the right thing. He turned his reaction over in his mind. He understood it. But, with the same thought came the realisation that the motivation for betraying the trust wasn't there anymore. People already had everything they needed or wanted. They had free will. There was no need to grab power, wealth or status.

James smiled. "I like it!" He turned to Caitlin. "I think it's a great idea. Even more so because I'll have a chance to get more experimentation and development done!"

Caitlin looked at James and turned to Harry and the others. She grinned mischievously. "I'm not sure you'll get off the hook soon!"

James cocked his head. "What do you mean?"

Caitlin laughed. "Well, I, for one, will be voting for you in the inaugural selection phase! It wouldn't surprise me if you aren't on the Council until our populations settle down and understand how it all works!"

James turned to Harry and sighed.

Chapter 19

Mary Harding frowned as she reread the talking points from an earlier security update. She was finishing the section on potential issues if the UN agreed to the refugee resettlement idea when she heard a tap on the screen dividing the command centre into various functional areas. Looking up, she saw a familiar face but couldn't immediately place who it belonged to. She smiled, a question in her eye. "Hi. Can I help?"

A petite Asian woman, possibly in her late twenties and with a ready smile, was bustled forward by another Asian lady who was older by a few years and had a more serious demeanour. The first turned and hissed at her associate as they settled beside each other and gave Mary a short bow.

Mary smiled as she recognised the second of the pair. "Chika! How are you?" She looked at the first woman. "Who's your friend? I don't think we've met, but I'm not sure."

Before Chika could speak, the other woman shot her a glance to stop her from speaking. She turned a radiant smile onto Mary. "I am Mai Linh. You may not recognise me because my head was bandaged when we arrived."

Chika nodded, "It was well bandaged; she was also dirty."

Mai Linh glared at Chika and shook her head. "We were both dirty." She looked at Mary again and gave her a sad smile. "We are much better now than when we arrived."

Mary smiled, "That's good, Mai. What can I do for you both?"

Mai Linh grinned. "Call me, Linh. I am from Vietnam originally."

Mary chuckled. "Linh, it is." She looked at them both and saw they had something on their minds. She pointed to nearby chairs and turned towards them. "Why don't you sit and tell me what you need?"

Once settled, Chika and Linh agreed that Chika would start. She composed herself and lifted her chin, a look of determination in her eyes. "We met in a place somewhere in Russia." She shrugged, "For the years we were there, we never knew where we were." She gritted her teeth. "It was a bad place for us." She took a deep breath before looking across to Linh, who gave her a nod of encouragement. She turned again to Mary. "I was stolen from my family whilst we holidayed in Italy. I was seventeen." She smiled and tilted her head in Linh's direction. "Linh doesn't like to talk about it herself, but she and another six girls were kidnapped from her village in the north of Vietnam." She lifted her head again. "Linh and I became friends, and it helped us both get through our time as slaves. We thought our lives would be short; we had no hope, even if we escaped the compound we were held in." She gave Linh a small smile. "One of the men would let us use his phone after he'd finished with us. It was there we heard about PacMan and planned our escape." She frowned. "It wasn't so simple. They chased us into the jungle, and Linh saved us by running into a tree with her head." Linh looked across and glared at Chika, but she nodded in agreement. Chika smiled back at her warmly before turning back to Mary. When she ran into the tree, it knocked her out, and she fell to the ground, blood streaming from her head." She cocked an eye. "I had no choice. I fell beside Linh and pushed both of us under the plants and away from the sound of the men." She took a breath. "We were very quiet." She grinned. "Linh had no choice!"

Linh chuckled and shook her head.

Chika nodded and smiled. "I tore bandages from my pants and wrapped them around Linh's head. Then, when I could not hear the men, I said, 'PacMan, please help us.'" She laughed. "I was so surprised when a box appeared beside us, and a door opened on its side. Then, a voice told us to get in. "I lay on the ground, not knowing what to do when Linh groaned." She shrugged. "That got me going again. I pulled Linh up and helped her into a seat in the box, and then, I got in myself." She shook her head at the memory. "PacMan said, 'Hang on.' Then the door closed, and everything was dark.

Mary smiled and nodded. "I remember when you arrived on Karma. You were both at the end of your strength—tired, sore, afraid and brave at the same time." She tilted her head in acknowledgement, and her eyes sparkled. "I am so happy to see how well you have recovered."

Chika looked at Linh and nodded, eyes gleaming. "We have recovered. The past is still with us, but it is the past, and we have a future to make."

Mary sat back and raised her eyebrows. "Okay. What do you have in mind?"

Chika turned to Linh and motioned with her hand. "Your turn!"

Linh smiled and cocked her head in thanks before turning to Mary. "We want a planet!"

Mary raised her eyebrows and blinked, "A planet?"

Linh smiled, "Yes. A planet." She tilted her head, "One with lots of nice islands would be especially welcome."

Mary looked at Chika first before she turned her eyes back to Linh. She cocked her head and frowned. "What do you want a planet for?"

Linh smiled in triumph. "We want to create a holiday resort. Somewhere for people to come and relax, have fun, let go of stress."

"A holiday resort?"

Linh grinned. "Yes. A holiday resort."

Mary chuckled and shook her head. "Well, I reckon that's a great idea!" She thought for a moment. "Wait here, and I'll get some people to help get you started."

Mary walked to the admin hut, where Alice wrestled with her preparation for the UN initiative. "Hi, Mary. What's up?"

Mary sat and shrugged. "Do we have any plans for holidays or R&R? I have a couple of ladies who want to set something up."

Alice frowned. "Not sure. ConMan, Anything on holidays?"

"We did have an item initiated by Harry Barnes some time ago, but it has slipped due to the impending activity with the United Nations."

Alice grunted, "I think I can recall that conversation myself." She looked up. "Mary, who are the ladies?"

"Mai Linh and Sasaki Chika"

"Conman, assign Mai Linh and Sasaki Chika to the activity and give them whatever help they need."

"Done!"

Mary grinned. "I'll let them know."

Alice looked up. "They in your office?"

"Yes. They just brought the idea to me."

"I'll come and have a quick chat with them."

Alice smiled after being introduced. "So, a resort?"

Linh shrugged and smiled at Alice. "We want to bring a little joy to all the people who are working so hard."

Chika added. "We have already had our share of darkness. Now it is time to shine!"

Alice chuckled. "Do you need any resources?" She raised her eyebrows, "Apart from a planet, of course."

Linh's face split in a broad grin. "Not right now. We already have a team of people who want to help. These are people with experience in hospitality and management of relevant accommodation offerings." She frowned, "Once we get the operation started, we'll need people to help with the various services and others to help with parallel education streams, but, for the moment, we're in the set-up phase."

Alice nodded her appreciation of their 'can-do' attitude. "ConMan's the AI that helps organise things around here. If you need anything, ask ConMan, and it will either organise the action itself or put you in touch with an AI or person who can help." Linh nodded her understanding. Alice considered. "MilSec, can you also keep an eye on these two? Help them out if any issues crop up."

"Yes, Alice."

Chika cocked her head. "You don't expect trouble, do you?"

Alice chuckled. "Not really. It's just that you'll be going to a possibly empty planet. It will have been explored and checked over, but I wouldn't want any surprises."

Linh and Chika looked at each other and grinned before looking back at Alice, "No surprises!" They said in tandem. "Definitely, no surprises!"

Alice wished them well and left. Mary shrugged. "Well, there you are! What's first on your plan?"

The ladies looked at each other, surprised but speechless. They hadn't thought that far ahead.

ConMan's voice broke the tension. "Perhaps I could suggest we find somewhere quiet to discuss the various characteristics of the planet you want to use? Once I have enough information, I can shortlist, say, five. Then we can go and have a look to see which one may be the most suitable."

Mary's face broke into a wide smile as Linh and Chika's eyes went round and flashed with excitement. Linh nodded. "Just what I was thinking!" She smiled at Chika. "Let's go to the park outside our quarters. Will that be all right, ConMan?"

"That will be fine, Linh."

Linh and Chika gave Mary a parting bow. "Thank you so much, Mary. You have been a wonderful help."

Mary grinned. "That's why I'm here! Good luck and I'm looking forward to a holiday! Soon!" She tilted her head. "What will you call it?"

Linh and Chika exchanged a glance before Chika looked back at Mary. "It will be called 'ShiBui'. It will be a place that is simply beautiful."

***

Avani walked along the corridor to her office when she noticed Euan Smart leaving Denny Robins's office. She paused while Euan said his goodbyes; when he turned her way, she smiled. "Got a minute?"

Euan frowned and looked at his watch. "What's on your mind?"

Avani looked around. "Let's go into my office."

They settled themselves at the meeting table after Avani let her assistant know she'd like not to be disturbed for a short while. Avani poured them both water, and Euan sat back in his chair. "What's this about, Avani?"

Avani looked Euan in the eye; her lips pressed together tightly as she considered her approach to this spur-of-the-moment decision to talk. Euan noticed Avani's serious turn and cocked his head in interest.

Avani pursed her lips. "We've had a few discussions around this in the past few months, and you have responded that you need more details."

Euan shook his head and started to rise. "Not this again, Avani? You say you can't give me more information and ask me to support you on blind faith! I'm the opposition leader for crying out loud!"

Avani held up a hand to stop Euan from leaving. "There have been significant advances. I can't tell you more; there's too much at stake." Her whole body pleaded with the leader of the opposition. "Please, just trust me on this. I will tell all as soon as I can."

Euan stood, eyes dark. "If it's that important, you should tell me as the Leader of the Opposition." He shook his head. "Nothing is so big and so secret that you can't tell me about it."

Avani stood, jaw clenched in frustration. She shook her head as she held his eyes. "This is one of those things. All I ask is, you cut me some slack when the time comes."

Euan sneered and shook his head as he left Avani's office.

***

Roche was ecstatic when he heard the news. "Leave him be for the time being. I'll let Emanuel know, and we'll work something out." He ended the call and immediately called Emanuel Thorpe.

"Yes, Roche?"

"Good news, Emanuel. We've found Martin Elliot."

Emanuel almost shouted ."That's fantastic, Roche. Well done!" He calmed as he continued. "Where did you find him?"

"He's leased a warehouse in Brookvale. It's a suburb on the northern beaches of Sydney."

"How did you track him?"

Roche chuckled. "Facial recognition. We have a man in the Roads and Traffic Authority who got us into their traffic video data." He smiled to himself in satisfaction. "It took a few days to identify him, and then we narrowed the area to a few blocks. Once we knew the area, it was a surveillance problem. We spotted him when he walked to his local cafe."

Emanuel's relief was palpable. "I can't tell you how happy that makes me feel, Roche. Thank you. Well done!"

Roche sat back in his chair. "It was good to get something concrete at last. It's been a long time coming. What do you want us to do with him?"

Emanuel frowned. "Nothing for now; I'll let Ainsley know we've found him, and he's potentially worthwhile bringing in. Can you keep him under surveillance without tipping him off?"

Roche nodded. "No problem. We'll keep a low profile. When the time comes, we'll know where he is."

"Excellent. I'm sure it won't be for too long."

Chapter 20

James ran his eye over the skyline as he stretched and yawned. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, relishing how good the air tasted. He turned to Imogen, but his movement stopped as the message from his eye got through to his brain. He jerked his gaze back, brow furrowed as he looked for whatever had caught his eye. His squint increased as he focused on the community across the valley on a small plateau. A spike was sticking up from the outer edge of the community, perhaps a hundred metres back, towards the hills behind.

"What's that?" He mumbled to himself.

"What's what?" asked Imogen as she looked where James looked.

"That spike? Near the back of…". He was interrupted by a chime from the ICS accompanied by notification lights for something important.

He looked again at the spike and frowned as he turned away. "Yes, Quinn?"

"Ah. James." The AI paused a moment. "You sound distracted."

"Distracted?" James shook his head. "You sound a tad verbose! What's with the spike at Seventeen?"

"Verbose?" Quinn made a crackling sound like wires shorting out. "Verbose! I've not been described as 'Verbose' before."

James sighed. "Enough with the 'bonhomie', Quinn. What did you call for, and what's that spike over the valley?"

Quinn reverted to its normal communication mode. "The answer to both is that SynCon has installed a new power system."

"Power system?"

"Yes. Arrays have been deployed in orbit to collect power from the sun and beam it to the planet as needed. The towers house receivers and interface with the existing power grid."

James looked at Imogen and shrugged. "Does that mean we no longer need to collect solar or wind power on the planet?"

"That is correct."

"What about hydro?"

"No longer required."

Imogen smiled. "That is wonderful. Quinn, when did SynCon do this?"

"SynCon has been working on our lack of computing capabilities for some time. Various refining, fabrication, and assembly facilities were developed to increase those capabilities, which required energy. Once it had completed increasing our computing capabilities, SynCon replicated the power system to the communities on the colonised planets. The systems were installed just over four hours ago."

Imogen looked at James, her brow furrowed. She walked to the other side of the house and looked towards the back of their community. Sure enough, a slender tower seemingly sprung from the ground, its top fifty metres high.

She chuckled to herself and shook her head. "Amazing." She turned back to James. "James, that's fantastic."

James was smiling but also had a slight frown. He tilted his head. "Quinn, you said SynCon was working on computing capability?"

"That is correct."

"You also said it rolled out the energy system once it had finished with the computing?"

"That is correct."

"Quinn, do you have any information on the nature of these 'new' computing capabilities?"

"I do, but they will all be discussed at the meeting ConMan has scheduled for ten-thirty this morning."

Imogen looked at her watch. "Ten-thirty. That's in just over an hour."

"That is the time ConMan found that would have the least impact on your other activities as well as fit in with attendees from Earth."

James chuckled as he caught Imogen's eye. "Quinn, why are you giving this information rather than using your resources for Step activity?"

Quinn made a humming noise. "Because I can!"

James and Imogen laughed out loud as Quinn clicked off the ICS system. Imogen took James's hands in hers and looked him in the eye. "What have we done?"

James pulled her close, and their lips met in a long kiss. As they separated, James shook his head. "I don't know." He grinned. "It's all getting away from me, and I have no idea where we're going!" He pulled Imogen into a happy hug. "But I'm bloody glad we've done it!"

James and Imogen joined the others in the main meeting hall an hour later. They discussed the news until ConMan sent a shuffling sound over the speakers.

"Welcome, and thank you for being here." ConMan paused as the group quieted. "As you know, SynCon has made unexpected changes to the power system." ConMan paused. "My communication models suggest this may be a surprise, and I have adjusted our group modelling to improve them in the future." Another pause. "That said, SynCon's remit 'is' creative." ConMan emphasised the 'is'. "Surprises may occur in the future."

Alice interrupted before ConMan could apologise any more. "That's fine, ConMan. Can you please give us the details of these exciting updates?"

ConMan almost sighed. "Yes, Alice, of course. While fabricating structures, SynCon was hampered by a lack of computer processing power. It designed processes and materials to manufacture computing capabilities. Building computers and components such as microchips, circuit boards, and electronic components in orbit has many advantages, including temperature and superconductors." ConMan paused. "A parallel requirement to this endeavour was providing power to the manufacturing facilities. As it transpired, the two streams of research overlapped. In orbit around Karma and Shibui are three Qubes." ConMan paused. "In simple terms, SynCon developed a one cubic centimetre, standalone processor called a QuBit. These QuBits interface with each other face to face. A QuByte is one cubic metre and is formed from one million QuBits. A Qube is formed from one million QuBytes and is one hundred metres to a side."

Harry scratched an eye. "ConMan, what is that in terms of computing power relative to what has been available till now?"

"A Qube has approximately four times the computing power of the old technology."

Harry gave a delighted chuckle. "Four hundred per cent improvement per Qube. That's brilliant."

ConMan continued. "SynCon continues to explore ways to enhance performance. The other side of the development of computing was providing enough energy to power manufacturing and operations. To that end, SynCon manufactured solar arrays to convert sunlight to energy, which is beamed to the receiving towers installed overnight. The technology behind the solar arrays has been known for some time, but their manufacture has been prohibitively expensive. SynCon is now looking into technologies that can run directly from microwave energy converters. This would completely remove the need for an energy grid."

Harry shook his head and looked around the group. "Energy was becoming our top bottleneck and, overnight, it's not an issue." He rubbed his eyes and sighed. "This is all happening very quickly." He looked at James and cocked his head. "I'm worried - it's too fast."

James looked at the others before shrugging his shoulders. "It's good!" He caught his friends' eyes. "Almost from the day I called you, we've been on an exponential learning curve. Step field technology is an enormous change, and now that AIs are working together, new and previously unknown use cases will continue to crop up." He shrugged and raised his arms to the side. "Free energy! That's a game-changer in its own right. Manufacturing in orbit!" He cocked an eye. "Using naturally occurring materials to make alloys! Additive manufacturing techniques in zero gravity." James flattened his lips, and his eyes narrowed. "It's happening quickly, I know. It's a lot to get used to. A lot for us to think about, to redefine ourselves in this new context." He smiled at Harry. "Something for us to be happy about. Not worried."

He looked around at his friends. "We do need to think about where we go from here. What opportunities are there for us as humans? What do we do if we don't have to worry about the basics?"

***

Ainsley, a man of few expressions, frowned at his phone when it rang. The caller ID was missing, a rarity for the few people who had his number. He cast a disdainful glance at the possibility of spam, then discreetly excused himself from Emanuel and Ruben.

"Yes?"

"It's Otto."

"Otto. This is unexpected."

"I don't have a lot of time."

"What can you tell me?"

"Not everything. I'm still on the outer. I joined the NewHope lot and ended up on a different planet."

"What! You're on one?" Ainsley's voice cracked with disbelief, his mind struggling to comprehend the enormity of the situation.

"Not at the moment. I'm helping with security. Listen to me. This is way bigger than you thought. There are more planets and people than you had any idea of." He paused and mimed a smoke as one of the locals walked out of the hangar. Whoever it was didn't pay him any notice. "I'll be heading back there in an hour or so. This is big, Ainsley; Big!"

"Otto.." Ainsley's brow furrowed. Otto had hung up.

***

Ainsley was both confused and on edge after Otto's call. He felt like the situation was slipping further out of their grasp as Emanuel and Ruben had not made any advances in their various investigations. Ainsley was also aware of a feeling he was unfamiliar with. It sent tiny shivers from his neck to his tailbone. It took him a while, but he eventually discovered what a frisson of fear felt like, a chilling realisation of his vulnerability in this high-stakes game.

He Looked up. "Planets. Plural." He frowned. "How the hell are we going to stop this? The longer they evade us, the more options and resources they have." He focused on Emanuel. "Get Dillon to grab that Marty Elliot fellow we've had our eye on while he's in Australia. He must know more than he's letting on. Time to increase the pressure."

Chapter 21

Before the UN announced the establishment of the Resettlement program, StepWorlds took the historic step of creating a Constitution. It is a simple document that has been copied for your benefit. In essence, it encapsulates the core values of the original settlement of Karma and an outline of the selection process for the Council, which is responsible for making decisions if required. The original draft did not include the final chapter relating to Enforcement as the drafting group did not expect there to be a need for one. New immigrants, however, took a more realistic approach, and the ramifications of acting against StepWorld's values were made clear.

With the adoption of the Constitution, an artificial intelligence known as 'Voice' was created. Voice is responsible for the administration of the annual StepWorld Selection process. The first Selection of Representatives was held on the sixth day of November, in Year Two, SST (Standard StepWorld Time). The first Council represented three hundred and fifty thousand people and spanned four planets. Karma, with a population of two hundred and fifty thousand; Lorelei, with thirty-eight thousand; Savanna, a harvest world, with fifteen thousand; and Shibui, with five thousand.

A total of twelve Councillors were Selected. Unsurprisingly, given the recency of the settlement of Karma, there were many familiar faces, including Harry Barnes, Alice Poole, Jerry Bos and Stan Moreton. Also selected were familiar faces from the NewHope program, with Megan Faulkener and Nuala de Silva from the process side and Dennis Crossing, Lauren McCann and Caitlin Curtis being better known once people were resettled. A popular representative from Shibui was Mai Linh, and a recent immigrant, Aalem Khan, who lived in Savanna, was also selected. Aalem was a teen from Afghanistan who was found in a broom cupboard in one of the buildings used by Australians operating out of Kabul. At fifteen, Aalem was the youngest member of the Council.

A final surprise was the selection of Ken Hayden—at least, it was a surprise to Ken, who always tried to stay in the background. His popularity was tracked to the self-defence classes he'd started. Ken's students, of whom there were many, found him trustworthy, respectful and caring—an unusual portrait for someone of Ken's deadly background.

***

StepWorld Constitution

A StepWorld is any planet that:

1. Respects Life

2. Respects Free Will

3. Utilises Step Technology

The Council

The governance of StepWorld is based on an annual Representative election. The election is managed by an artificial intelligence known as 'Voice' and allows people in a neighbourhood to nominate a person as their representative for the coming year.

Voting is conducted by personal conversation with Voice.

Depending on the population, representatives of a common group, as determined by Voice, will be required to Select a Group Representative for a more manageable Tier.

Tiers of Representatives will grow in number as populations grow and activities diversify.

The Tier from which the Council is Selected will be known as the Final Tier and will consist of not more than two hundred and fifty Representatives.

A Council consisting of Representatives, the number of whom is determined by Voice, will be Selected from and by the Final Tier.

The Council's Selection will occur upon completion of the Tier building after the annual Representative election.

Tier Building consists of Representatives getting to know each other.

Council Operations

The Council will make determinations in the following circumstances:

1. A question arises concerning Respect for Life.

2. A question arises concerning Respect for Free Will.

3. A previously unknown or unexpected situation arises.

The Council's determinations cannot act to the detriment of Life or Free Will.

Enforcement

Monitoring activities on StepWorlds is in the care of the artificial intelligence known as 'MilSec'.

Any activity that breaches Respect for Life or Free Will will be dealt with as it occurs.

If an individual or group of individuals intentionally breaches Respect for Life or Free Will, they will be relocated to an island known as 'Pip'.

***

There was a sound at the front of the Unit; Marty had time to look at the security monitor and see a group of men crashing through the office door before the internal security siren sounded and the screen went dark.

Marty stood in shock for a moment before he heard a voice. "Marty, get under the desk."

Marty looked around and realised it was MilSec. Without another thought, he ducked behind his desk and scooted under.

The office door was kicked open, and two men entered. They both held handguns and looked ready to use them. Of the group of five, two men remained in the unit's entry foyer, and the last at Marty's office door.

"Come out, Mr. Elliot. We know you're there."

Marty's earpiece chirped as MilSec said. "I have disabled their weapons and can disable them if needed."

Marty smiled to himself and slowly backed out from under his desk. By the time he stood, he had replaced the smile with a frown. "Who are you? What do you want?"

"Hands where we can see them, Mr. Elliot." The man who spoke was tall and had a goatee beard. His eyes were dark, as was his hair, which was long enough to cover the collar of the heavy jacket he wore.

Marty shrugged and placed his hands on his desk before asking again. "What are you after? I don't have anything of value here?"

The man smiled; He was confident. "We'll ask the questions, Mr. Elliot." He nodded to the corner of the office. "Move away from the desk and sit in that corner."

Marty's frown grew indignant. Before he could speak, the second man held up his weapon and pointed it at Marty's leg. "Either you do what we say when we say, or we do it the hard way!"

Marty noticed the gun had a silencer and decided to do what they wanted. He'd let their questions and actions tell him what he needed to know. He moved to the corner of the office, keeping his hands in view. Before he could sit, the second man grabbed him by the shoulder and shoved him against the wall. "Stand still." He proceeded to pat Marty down for weapons. Marty grimaced appropriately as the search proceeded, but, in the end, the man stood back. "He's clean."

Marty turned slowly and sat on the floor.

The man Marty considered the leader looked to the open door and called, "Billy! Bob! Come in here." He turned to the second man. "Get into the warehouse and see what you can find. Look everywhere!"

The second man, with Billy and Bob, went through the connecting door to the main work area of the unit, where they started to search.

The first man sat on the corner of the desk and looked at Marty. "Mr Elliot, we know you have had dealings with people of interest to my organisation." He smiled grimly. "I need you to tell me everything you know about them."

Marty looked at the man with a puzzled frown. "Which people? I have dealings with a lot of people."

The man sneered. "You can focus on James Kentley and Harry Barnes to start with if that helps narrow things down."

Marty enhanced his puzzled frown with astonishment. "Kentley? Barnes? I haven't seen them for over a year!"

The man grimaced. "So you say. However, our investigation shows you still act as a middleman to procure various items for them." The man held up a hand to forestall Marty's denial. "Don't talk! Listen!" He took a breath, obviously angered by Marty's reticence. "Mr Elliot, my organisation has scoured the globe for months looking for links to these people." He held a hand up again as Marty opened his mouth. "You, Mr. Elliot, are one of the loose ends we have found. A strong loose end given your association with these people whilst at a certain warehouse in Tumbi Umbi."

Marty looked at the man. "I helped them get some caravans and other stuff. They needed the help and paid well. Marty shrugged, "What's the problem with that?"

The man sighed and was about to continue when the men who'd gone to search the open space of the Unit returned. He looked at the second man, a query in his eyes.

The second man shook his head. "Nothing. Just dust and space." He shrugged, "There is a pallet with sacks of ball bearings of different sizes against the back wall, but that's all."

The man frowned and looked at Marty before turning back. "Check the desk. Look for any hidden caches or a safe."

The man called Billy retrieved an aluminium briefcase from outside the office and assembled some electronic equipment. Marty frowned again. "What the hell! What do you think I have?"

The man in charge moved away from the desk as the second man, and Bob started to search the drawers and credenza. He turned to Marty. "We're not playing around here, Mr. Elliot. We are committed to finding those people and won't leave any stone unturned." He was interrupted by his mobile phone. He turned away as he answered. "Yes, Mr. Sheridan?"

Marty tried to listen as much as possible despite knowing the AIs were recording the conversation. He didn't hear much but picked out someone called General Maine. Marty hadn't heard of the General but was reasonably sure that Mr. Sheridan was Thomas Sheridan of WestProtect. They're closing in, he thought to himself. Perhaps it's time to move on.

The man returned after a few minutes. "Where were we, Mr. Elliot?"

Marty glared back at the man. "Was that Thomas Sheridan? Are you from WestProtect? Who the hell is General Maine?" he shook his head and almost shouted, "What the hell do you want with me?"

The man sneered as he looked contemptuously at Marty. "So, you know about WestProtect. That's unusual, Mr. Elliot. Not many people in Australia know about us."

Marty started to sneer back but relaxed his face instead. "Yes, I know about you; Another white wing, control mob. We have the same types here, and they also try to keep out of the public eye. Manipulation from behind the scenes is your usual modus operandi, isn't it?"

The man smiled at Marty's outburst. "We will prevail, Mr. Elliot." His eyes crinkled in mirth. "We're nothing like your institutes in Australia. WestProtect has connections and power you can't imagine." He raised his eyebrows and ducked his head towards Marty. "And, we will use it."

He turned to Billy, who was returning from the open area. "Anything?"

"No, Jim, nothing." He shook his head. "He looked at his instruments and cocked his head. "The only thing that shows isn't something I'm looking for."

Jim frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I'm not sure. There's something that looks like a communications frequency, but it's not directional." He paused. "It's more like a general EM field. It has noise, but it's nothing I can work out."

Jim looked at Marty.

Marty looked back at Jim blankly.

Jim asked Billy, "Have you seen it before?"

Billy nodded. "Sure. It started around six or seven months ago. One of our guys in Greenland first noticed it, and it's been around ever since." He scratched at an ear lobe and went on. "The strength of the field fluctuates, but the reading I'm getting today is comparable with the stronger ones."

Jim frowned and looked at Marty again. "What do you know about the communications field?"

Marty looked astonished. "What would I know? I'm a middleman. I buy and sell stuff. Perhaps it's a phone tower or something!"

Jim looked at the second man. "We'll have to take him with us. The boss will want to question him."

The second man looked up and nodded. He called the man stationed at the office door, "Pete, get some tape and zip-locks. He's coming with us."

Marty stood as they were talking about taking him away. "Now, hang on a moment. You can't take me anywhere. I've got nothing you want anyway."

Jim took out his gun and aimed at Marty's leg again. "I've had enough of your talk. You come easily or in pain. Your choice."

Marty looked like he was about to argue but let his arms hang by his side as he slumped in defeat. He looked at Jim, resignation in his eyes, "Can I, at least, use the toilet before you tie me up?"

Jim looked at the second man and jerked his head.

The second man took Marty by the shoulder and guided him to the toilet. He got Billy to check the room for weapons or means of escape and then looked at Marty. "You've got a minute."

Marty moved to the side of the room and whispered, "Quinn, it looks like my time on Earth has finished; it's time to get me out of here."

"Acknowledged."

A PTV appeared in the open area of the bathroom, and Marty stepped in and shut the hatch. "I'm ready, Quinn. Don't forget the bearings."

"Bearings have been sent. Stepping now."

***

With his team of scientists and technicians, Harper climbed into the private jet parked adjacent to a cargo hangar and waited. They waited while their equipment was stowed in the central cargo bays and then waited some more. Dillon, the person handling the operation, was on edge and kept checking his watch. His team, some seated behind Harper's people and some on the tarmac, idled the time in a relaxed but watchful manner.

"Here they come."

Dillon exited the plane and walked to where the SUV pulled up by the hangar. Only four people exited the vehicle. Dillon's jaw clenched. "What happened?"

Jim's cheek twitched as he dragged his eyes to meet his boss's. He shook his head. "I don't know how he did it. He went to the toilet, which we cleared." He took a breath. "He disappeared. No sound. No fuss." His brow creased as his eyes narrowed. "I don't know how he did it!"

"Shit!" Dillon wiped his brow and the front of his face with his hand. "Nothing for it. It just proves Sheridan was right about the dude." He looked back towards the east and shook his head. "Load up! Let's get out of this god-forsaken hole!"

Chapter 22

Adriana Oliveira sat back after Lauren had outlined her idea. With them were Australia's Foreign Affairs Minister, Erin Harper and UN Permanent Representative, Tess Barker.

Erin looked at Adriana and raised her eyebrows. "The key issue for Australia is security. Our processes and technologies must remain confidential."

Tess nodded. "The PM was adamant on this point. She wants to be sure we use processes that 'obfuscate' how people are transported."

Adriana's eyes sparkled with reassurance. "I don't believe it will be a problem. Most people, including our agencies, are relieved when something works out to a good end." She smiled encouragingly. "The movement of people using secure buses, enclosed terminuses and specialised staff to keep those people safe and maintain their security is not an issue. Believe me." She shrugged. "Besides, it's a system that has worked already for Australia and Australia is supporting the Special Procedure by giving us access to Australian solutions." She tilted her head. "We don't need to dig into it; The question won't come up."

Lauren grinned, sensing the unanimous support. "In a spirit of collaboration, Australia will generously donate the use and management of the NewHope process to the UN. The system will be accessed through temporary UN Embassies to be established where needed. These embassies will be treated with the same respect and security as any diplomatic embassy. Staffing the process will be a joint effort, with a combination of people from Australia and the UN. Staff will be selected and appointed by Ambassador Barker or her representative." She mentally checked off the main points they'd discussed, then looked up. "The UN can request to review any part of the process at any time to ensure the safety and security of the refugees is being maintained." She smiled. "Anything else?"

Adriana smiled widely and shook her head. "I am astounded!" Her eyes brimmed with tears of appreciation. "I could hardly believe it when Lauren told me Australia wanted to help with the crisis." She wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand. "That you come to me with an idea that will save millions of lives." She frowned and looked at Tess and Erin. "Ambassador, Minister, thank you for this gift." She smiled gently and sighed. "A tangible solution to our biggest problem and without strings." She took a breath as her emotions settled. "I will need Lauren to help drafting of the Special Procedure." She looked at Lauren and grinned. "We should be able to have it finished within a week." She returned her attention to Tess. "I'd like you to join me when I take it to the Commissioner for approval." Tess inclined her head in acknowledgement. "Good. Let's aim for next Wednesday, fortnight. That gives us a bit over two weeks for the documentation, and I know the Commissioner will be in town for meetings."

***

The announcement of establishing United Nations Human Rights Resettlement Embassies (UNHRRE), a significant step in global humanitarian efforts, may not have made the front pages. However, it has garnered the attention of those deeply involved with the day-to-day issues of refugees, a testament to the importance of this initiative.

The program, sponsored by Australia and based on Australia's successful NewHope initiative, has been added as a pathway within Sustainable Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Initiative (CRISP). Through the program, the UNHCR will establish a protected interface encompassing the infrastructure required to process refugees who want to enter the resettlement pathway. The embassies will incorporate protection for the refugees that ensure their well-being, safety, security and personal privacy. Embassies will also provide education to refugees about the pathway and resettlement options. When a refugee decides to join the pathway, the embassy will arrange appropriate transport to a transit area or, if possible, the final location. Once the participant has left the embassy, their care is delivered through the program sponsors who will see the participant through to their new homes.

Addressing concerns about funding, the UNHCR has reassured that the UNHRRE initiative will be implemented without the need for additional funds. The spokesperson further emphasised that savings from refugee management will offset the initiative's costs, with the surplus allocated to other critical areas of refugees' needs, such as sanitation and health. This efficient use of resources underscores the initiative's financial sustainability and broader impact on refugee welfare.

As a matter of urgency, embassies are being prepared to be established in Ethiopia, Bangladesh, Turkey, and Lampedusa. These will be followed in other areas over the coming weeks and months.

An embassy is not a single location but can combine several sites. Ethiopia, for example, will have embassy sites in Addis Ababa at the IOM and UNHCR offices and Sherkole, Buramino and Adi-Harush refugee camps. Additional sites, if required, can be established quickly in an office or any open area with road access and enough space to accommodate a temporary structure for security and privacy for refugees and staff.

Embassy structures will follow a standard plan based on a Quonset hut design that can be transported and assembled quickly. The size of the structure can be adjusted to accommodate the number of people needing the pathway. Once an Embassy structure is no longer needed, it can be easily dismantled for transportation to another site.

***

Harper Caldwell closed off the internet meeting with his AI4U management team. He was still angry after being forced to move his Step tech research to a secure facility in Colorado. WestProtect kept him on as the head of the research effort, though he felt that it was only in name. Harper wasn't used to the feeling of not being in control. He wiped a snarl off his face as he heard a tap on the office door. "Yes?"

Harper's assistant, Sherry Johnson, partially opened the door and poked her head around the edge. She was an experienced PA but found Caldwell's mood swings hard to pick. "Mr. Caldwell, Mr. Whitehead would like a moment."

Harper's eyes focused. Kevin Whitehead was the lead researcher assigned by WestProtect to the Step tech project. "Send him in, Sherry! What are you waiting for?"

Sherry blinked, opened the door and stood back. Kevin Whitehead was around sixty, somewhat overweight and dressed in his perennial lab coat. His eyes glittered through black plastic spectacles. "We did it!" He smiled. "We've made a successful Step and repeated it."

Harper's face was blank. He shook his head to clear the fog. "A Step? You've made a Step?"

Kevin's smile widened, and his chin jiggled as he chuckled. "Yes!" His eyebrows rose. "We've done it, Harper!" His face retained a professional look. "We know how to Step."

Harper felt the strain drain from his shoulders, neck and chest. They'd cracked it. He looked at Kevin and smiled like a kid. "That's brilliant, Kevin!" He got out of his chair. "Can I see it work?"

"Of course. I came as soon as we were sure." Kevin smiled. "I've had another test set up for you to watch."

Harper grinned and strode to the door. "Let's go! What are we waiting for?"

The test module was sitting on a bench and encased inside a protective perspex enclosure. It was large and looked like a plastic container with circuit boards attached to the sides, top and bottom.

Kevin talked Harper through the changes they'd made since the last report. "As you know, we tested the material composition for the accelerator target until we knew what caused the field to activate. Since then, we've analysed many tests that have led us to identify the two exotic particle fields and their interaction." He took off his glasses and looked Harper in the eye. "We now know how to control those fields to create a Step event for a specific period." He smiled as he added. "We also understand the hardware involved and have been able to scale it to the units you can see on the faces of the test module."

Harper looked again at the test module. It was standalone and had no wiring connected to external sources. "How is it powered? I would have thought the power requirement would be high."

Kevin shrugged. "One of your people from Australia discovered that we could operate on small, rechargeable batteries. We've done several instant tests, and the power has been more than enough. This test will verify the power lasts while the unit is Stepped." He smiled. "And we have spare capacity if not."

Harper nodded. "Okay. So tell me about this test."

Kevin got serious. "To date, the testing has focused on engaging the field. We've used a high-speed camera to record what happens to the test equipment; it disappears for a microsecond before appearing again." He looked at the test module. "This test will prove we can control the length of time the unit is Stepped and, we hope, will tell us where it has Stepped to."

Harper looked at Kevin, a frown on his face. "Hope?"

Kevin shrugged. "We have a camera and sensors to record information about the location. We don't know where it is, so we can't predict what it's like. Regardless, we'll know more for future tests."

Harper nodded. "Excellent."

Kevin turned to Mark, an assistant researcher. "Go ahead." Mark pressed a sequence of keys on his computer, looked up, and nodded. "Ready."

Kevin looked at Harper and smiled. "The test will last ten seconds. If successful, the test module will disappear and reappear ten seconds later. When it returns, we'll analyse the recorded data and the test module's physical state." He shrugged. Then we'll do it again and again until we know everything we can about this technology and what it can do for us."

Harper rubbed his hands together before releasing a tense breath. He needed this to work. He nodded slowly. "Do it."

Kevin turned to Mark again and nodded. Mark turned back to his keyboard and hit the enter button. A large display screen above the test area cleared before displaying a countdown. When the counter hit zero, the test module disappeared, and a new countdown began at ten. Except for the hum of electronics and air conditioning, the room was silent.

For Harper, the ten seconds dragged out. It was long enough for him to mentally review the whole sorry story, from Kentley being fired to Mo Banks and his arrest to WestProtect's failures. He had invested much of himself into this project and feared its failure. A beep brought him back into the moment as the last three seconds elapsed.

Right on schedule, the test module reappeared. It looked exactly as it had before it disappeared ten seconds earlier. Mark was enthusiastic, shouting "Yes!" and his voice was joined by others working on the project.

Harper grinned, his eyes alight. He grabbed Kevin by the arm. "Well done! That's a great step forward." He took a breath and exhaled slowly. "Keep me posted on progress." He looked Kevin in the eye. "The next test I want to see is where you send the module somewhere else and bring it back."

Kevin's smile faltered slightly before he regained his demeanour. "Now that we've got the fields right, we can concentrate on how it all works and what we can do with it." He nodded to himself, his mind thinking through possibilities.

Harper put his hand on Kevin's shoulder, bringing Kevin's attention back with a slight start. "I have full confidence, Kevin. Anything you need." His look intensified. "Just make it soon!"

Kevin nodded and smiled. "We're on it. I already have some ideas."

Harper's mind was already planning what he'd tell Ainsley as he turned to leave.

***

Dr. Gwen Oakley jumped at the chance to help establish the medical installation on the island known as Pip. Gwen was a clinical psychologist and had received her PsychD from the University of Sydney's School of Psychology eight years previously. She met her husband, Will, four years later, and after a short but frantic dual courtship, they married and started a family. Will was looking forward to helping people rehabilitate into new lives as he had missed his time as a social worker while taking on the part of house husband and father to their twins, Ian and Margie. Getting back to work would prove interesting as the kids were two and a half years old, the perfect age for trouble.

Pip, named for its Preferred Integration Program, was an idyllic island set between two large island groups in a temperate climate zone. Once StepWorld's constitution had been drawn up, it was to Pip that people were sent if they acted against the two simple rules they had to adhere to - respect life and free will. The idea of needing the island didn't occur to anyone until the large migrations started, and people came to the StepWorlds voluntarily. A small minority of these people behaved in such a way that they required intervention.

Gwen looked at the man and woman sitting on opposite sides of the small table. The woman was sporting a bruised cheek that had mellowed to a pale yellow over the last few weeks. Gwen had asked the man to explain what was happening with his wife. The man was having trouble answering. His jaw was clenched, and his nose wrinkled. His eyes moved to his wife, then dropped to the table where his hands were clasped tightly together. His neck strained as he tried to get his vocal cords working, and he swallowed a lot as his confusion mounted. The woman reached out a hand and placed it over her husband's clenched hands on the table. "It's all right, Linus. I know it's hard."

He looked at his wife's sad smile, but her full eyes looked at him unwaveringly. A tear leaked out and ran down the side of her face that was bruised. She rubbed the back of his still-clenched hands with her thumb, and her brows pulled together. "Do you remember the night you asked me to marry you?" Her face softened, and her eyes filled with the memory. "We were kids. Life at our feet and an endless future." She sighed. "We got close, didn't we?" Her lower lip trembled slightly. "The business was doing well up until the accident."

Linus looked down at the table, watching his wife's thumb and letting go of the present as his mind dropped into the past. His chin wavered, and a tear fell onto his wife's thumb. She lifted her thumb and kissed the wetness before placing her hand on his again. She felt his tension ease a fraction and lifted hopeful eyes to Gwen, who returned an encouraging nod.

Looking back at her husband, she saw his bright hazel eyes locked onto her face. Linus shook his head, and his eyes dropped back to the table. "I was stupid." He looked up, face pale. "I never thought something like that could happen to me." He swallowed and looked into his wife's eyes, "Pol?" His chin trembled, and his whole body contorted as he spoke, "It was my fault!" He broke down. Sitting in his chair, hunched, arms wrapped around his body, he broke down. Huge sobs escaped his lungs. His back arched as though his spine undulated like a rubber snake. Snot drooled onto the table, unseen through closed eyes. He broke down as the year of blame and self-hate gradually bubbled up within him and made its way out of his heart, eyes and throat.

Pol looked again at Gwen, a question in her dark, pleading eyes.

Gwen's eyes narrowed, intense. She mouthed, "Wait."

Pol and Gwen watched as Linus released what had been held back for over a year. Slowly, the wrenching sobs eased. Shoulders relaxed enough for more air to enter bruised lungs. A large lungful of air was drawn in, and Linus raised his head. His eyes were open wide, dark circles a silent counterpoint to his bright hazel. "I blamed you. I blamed Kyla. I blamed everyone else but me." Pol raised a hand to his face. "I'm so sorry, Pol. I had to keep pushing it down to get through each day." His whole body shuddered. "Can you ever forgive me?"

Suddenly, the couple came together, emotions released after a year of suppression, doubt and heartache. Gwen kept an eye on them and, when the outpouring of pain slowed, brought them a box of tissues. She smiled warmly and drew a deep breath of her own. "These may help."

Pol took a tissue and wiped it under an eye before starting to giggle. Linus smiled at her reaction and realised he hadn't smiled for a long time. He chuckled, revelling in the freedom he felt in his body. Seeing the change in her husband, Pol started to laugh with joy, and soon, the two of them were laughing, crying and wiping each other's faces with well-used tissues.

"Mama? Papa?"

The couple stilled as Gwen carried in their daughter, Kyla, who was six years old. Although she didn't understand what was happening, she felt a change and smiled as she reached out to her parents.

Linus's face crumpled again as he took hold of his daughter, who was enfolded in a wonderful family hug. After a short while, Gwen caught Linus's eye and nodded her satisfaction. "Good?"

Linus looked her in the eye and lifted his chin. "Yes, Dr. Oakley." His eyes grew brighter. "And, thank you for your help. I don't think I would have realised without you and," He reached an arm around Pol's waist, "Pol's commitment and support."

Kyla looked up and, seeing a fuss, made her way over. It was a struggle for her as her left leg was locked at the knee and twisted, but she managed okay. When she reached her parents, she was delighted to see they were paying her the right amount of attention as they should. She smiled happily as her mum picked her up in a joyful hug.

Gwen smiled and nodded to the couple. "I have assigned you to a visitor's house on the island's north side. It's safe, and you'll be able to start coming together in peace." Linus looked at Pol, lips tight with determination and nodded. Pol gave Gwen a small smile, "Thank you, Doctor."

Gwen chuckled. "Don't thank me; you three have done the hard work! All I've done is show you a pathway back."

The few days in the visitor's house gave the family the time needed to begin healing the various wounds they had accumulated since Kyla's accident.

It was still difficult for Linus, but he started to come to terms with the nature of accidents and young kids. He had been responsible for Kyla when it happened; he hadn't noticed the five-year-old as she accompanied her friend, Tessa, out through the back gate as Tessa was leaving. Tessa's father didn't see Kyla behind the large SUV and wasn't aware when the vehicle had run over Kyla's leg, shattering the knee and femur. The knee had proven too damaged to repair and, as a result, was immobile and had set at an angle.

Linus looked at his wife and daughter and smiled wistfully. "I love you both dearly and look forward to a new life on Karma, wherever it takes us." That night would be the last they would spend in the visitor's house; MilSec had cleared Linus to leave Pip the next day.

Pip did hold one more surprise for the family, but that wouldn't be obvious for a few months.

Chapter 23

Aalem walked along the track used by a tractor and bike. He'd been silent for some time; Dennis knew the silence augured a troubling question from the sixteen-year-old lad. They walked another hundred metres in silence before Aalem looked sideways at the older man and frowned. "Can you tell me about respect for all life?" His narrowed eyes and tight lips bore witness to the profound thought he'd put into the subject before bringing it up, a question that carried the weight of the world in its simplicity.

Dennis took a deep breath and chuckled as he let it out. "That is a good question from one as young as you, Aalem." He spotted a tree with large roots forty metres up the gentle to their left. "Let's sit on a root and talk about it." His appreciation for Aalem's curiosity and respect for his young mind was evident in his voice.

From their vantage point, they looked back down the slope, past the track, and across a paddock to the river. The river, a shimmering ribbon of life, was flanked by a broad expanse of open country. This vast landscape was dotted with large trees, their branches reaching out like welcoming arms. The trees seemed to merge with the foothills before the terrain folded into the mountains thirty kilometres distant, a majestic backdrop to their conversation.

Dennis waved his arm in the general direction of the river and mountains. "What do you see?"

Aalem squinted into the distance, eyes serious as he answered the question. "There is a path we use to go places on the farm." He looked at Dennis to make sure he was on the right track. Dennis raised his brows in a gesture that asked for more.

Aalem turned to the landscape again. "There is a fence; it encloses a field we use to grow barley." He paused before continuing. "Beyond the barley is open ground with scattered trees which grow more closely together as they get closer to the river." Dennis remained silent. "The river runs in rills and pools here, though we cannot see it. The pools have good fish that are plentiful and easy to catch."

"Are they tasty?"

Aalem turns and smiles at the interruption. "Yes. Very tasty!"

"How do you catch them?"

Aalem glanced sideways at Dennis, curious about his line of questioning. "It depends on the fish and the seasons. The flatcats are like little warriors, always ready for a fight. They're aggressive and easy to trick." He tilted his head, a mischievous glint in his eye. "The fantrout, now they're the real challenge. They're smart, they prefer the faster-running water, and they can read the conditions like a book."

"What bait do you use?"

Aalem smiled. "I use worms and beetles for the flatcats and carved lures for the fantrout."

"Why?"

"Because that is their preference."

Dennis leaned back against the trunk of the tree. "That is good." He turned back to the lad. "What else can you see?"

Aalem's eyes tightened momentarily, but he knew Dennis had his way of explaining things. He looked past the trees on the far side of the river. "The land is open. There are few trees, but those there are large." He squinted into the distance. "I see a herd of horses. They are resting in the shade of a stand of trees. Some are cropping the grasses nearby while others are simply at rest."

"Are they large animals?"

"Yes. Larger than you or me."

"What else can you see?"

"To the south is a small herd of tubsheer grazing by a thicket of jam bramble. The bramble is darkening as the season brings cooler nights." He grinned. "We'll have fresh bramble jam in another few months!"

Dennis smiled but remained silent.

Aalem sees movement closer to hand as birds break into action in a small copse of trees on the near side of the river. "Ah. A flock of konkuers." He tries to see what has set them off but can't see anything obvious. "Perhaps chokura? Or pig?" He watches the flock fly an erratic path to another clump of trees further upriver.

Dennis interrupts Aalem's enjoyment of the konkuer's antics. "What can you tell me of chokura?"

Aalem purses his lips as he considers his reply. "I have seen chokura only two times on Karma." His eyes narrow. "It is named for the similar animal found on ShiBui, but they are unrelated." He smiled. "They spend much of their time in the trees, eating fruit and fresh leaves. When fruit is scarce, they will come to the ground and search out small animals and insects. They relish ants and spend hours digging into their nests to feed." Aalem turned to Dennis. "They are happy-looking creatures. Their tail is long and well-used as they travel through trees." He grinned at Dennis. "One smiled at me - I am sure!"

Dennis smiled back. "I have heard that they smile when they break wind." He grinned, nose crinkled in mirth. "But that is only what I have heard."

Aalem looked at Dennis and shook his head, though he also had a smile.

Dennis lifted his head and looked Aalem in the eye. "You have looked. You have seen grasses and trees, tubsheer and horses, konkuer and fish, ants and rodents." He smiled. "That is life - is it not?"

Aalem knew much was assumed in that question: the rock and soil, the air, bacteria, death, decay and growth, gravity and weather. And many other things that he did not understand yet. On the whole, he understood it all as life. "Yes. That is life."

"And, we are a part of that life?"

Aalem frowned, and his nose wrinkled. "But we came here from elsewhere."

Dennis nodded in agreement. "Yes. So?"

Aalem shrugged and scratched his ear. "But we don't belong here, naturally. We are invaders, aren't we?" He swallowed. "We come here and confine tubsheer, ride horses, catch fish." He looked at Dennis, eyes wide. "How can this be respectful of the life already here?"

Dennis chuckled and looked out at the landscape. "What did the konkuer do after moving from one copse to another?"

Aalem frowned. "They would eat insects, rest. I don't know; they'd be konkuers."

Dennis tilted his head in agreement, "And, the chokura? Do they not go from tree to tree?"

Aalem saw where Dennis was going. "But that is on this planet; this is their world." He frowned. "We have come from a planet far from here. This is not our world."

Dennis chuckled and gave a slight frown. "Who bestows ownership of a world?"

Aalem's head shook. "I don't know." He rubbed his eyes. "Nobody." He looked across to Dennis, eyes bright as emotions roiled inside him. "There's nobody. It's just us."

Dennis watched Aalem as he worked things through. He looked from Aalem, whose head was bowed, and turned his eyes to the view before them. "Not just 'us', Aalem." he smiled back at the boy, "We are all of life. All the grasses, trees, rocks, insects, animals, mountains, rivers, sun, moons, stars, galaxies." His face settled into a peaceful expression, one of contentment, "That is the life I respect. We are animals, and we live in an environment. We move in that environment and have an impact; we scuff the ground, tread on small animals, insects, plants, seedlings." His eyes narrowed. "We have to eat, just like all life. We need different fuels that we process and turn into materials we use to build bone, flesh, and blood. Respect for life doesn't preclude living. Respect for life means that we, like all other life, do not wantonly destroy over and above our nature."

Aalem was silent as he pondered the idea that he was an animal and not something above that.

Dennis could see what he was thinking; It was common for people to think of themselves as unique beings. "Humans have evolved an awareness far beyond most of the life we are immersed in. We can kill anything we want to kill at any time. We don't." He smiled as Aalem looked at him. "The fact we are having this conversation is the most profound proof we do not have to kill everything. We are aware of the nature of other life and can ensure we have as little impact as possible in how we live." He grinned and raised his eyebrows, "Respect for life is respect for all life, including human life."

Aalem's stomach rumbled again as he nodded his understanding. "I understand what you mean, Dennis. Thank you." His eyes darkened, and he frowned and shook his head. "It's difficult for me to grasp that we, people, are not somehow chosen to be masters of life. It has been in my life since I could understand my parents and our elders."

Dennis smiled. "Don't feel alone in that. Most of Earth's cultures are based on the same notion." He shook his head, eyes thoughtful, as he stood.

Aalem gave Dennis a shaky smile. "But, if we are animals, albeit smarter animals, what's the point of life?"

Dennis cocked his head and raised his eyebrows. "That's easy. Look around. Life is what it is. You are alive. Live!"

Chapter 24

The girl struggled to carry her young brother as she entered the strange car. Her mother, grandmother and two sisters shuffled across the seats to make room. Most of the people in the General Purpose Transport Vehicle were women and children. Most were starving. Their men were dead, killed in the endless fighting to survive the desert. Pointless.

The doors to the outer embassy hall closed, and embassy staff managing the evacuation stepped back from the GPTV as a countdown sounded from unseen speakers.

“Stepping in 5… 4… 3… 2… 1…”

The vehicle disappeared. The evacuation staff waited. An empty GPTV appeared.

The doors to the outer embassy hall opened, and a new group were ushered in. The evacuation was continuous and would be completed in another week. All in all, nearly a million people had been evacuated to Karma from this embassy at Sherkole and others like it located at Buramino and Adi-Harush refugee camps. Relocation centres had also been established in Addis Ababa at the International Organisation for Migration office and at the UNHCR - these last two for people not held in camps.

The process operated much like the NewHope program in that a briefing was held in the main hangar before those who decided to join the program were Stepped out. Nobody declined the opportunity.

The real challenges started at the other end.

***

Although she'd only been Secretary of State for a little over a year, Melody Miles was no stranger to intrigue. However, this particular meeting was quite unusual given that the president asked her to get together with these people, and he couldn't give her any information about the context other than the UN's refugee resettlement program was involved. She entered the secure meeting room and took a moment to pour a coffee and reflect on the others in attendance.

She knew Ruben Sykes and Joanna Mitchell well. Ruben, Deputy Director of National Intelligence, was an agreeable gentleman whose appearance belied his reputation of single-mindedness when it came to the security of America. Joanna Mitchell was the USA's Permanent Representative at the United Nations. Melody had only met Joanna a handful of times; she appeared to be a brilliant diplomat and had an excellent reputation for her ability to forward America's interests in the UN. Joanna caught Melody's eye and inclined her head, a small token of their shared diplomatic roles.

Elias Donovan and Tom Sheridan were a different kettle of fish entirely. Melody had met both men on various occasions and knew them to be conservative in their politics and actively engaged in lobbying. Interestingly, both were members of the WestProtect think tank, and both focused on understanding influences and sentiments inside the USA and in other countries.

Melody took a sip of her coffee and nodded, satisfied. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly as she made her way to the table and prepared herself to unravel this little mystery. Once people were reacquainted and general greetings were done, Melody motioned for attention. "Does anyone need anything from the staff?" At the negative response, she pressed a button at a console on the table and waited until it turned green. She looked up and smiled. "Can someone please tell me what's going on?"

The two men from WestProtect looked at each other; before they could speak, Joanna sat forward. "Perhaps I can shed some light onto the situation." She bit her lower lip, inclined her head and looked at Tom Sheridan. "I'll refer to it as a situation rather than a problem for now." She looked around the table and returned her focus to Melody. "As you are aware, the UNHCR has kicked off a refugee resettlement program with the sponsorship and help of Australia. The program is based on Australia's NewHope housing program implemented some time ago to help them handle their local homelessness crisis." She cocked her head, eyebrow raised in acknowledgement. "Their program was a huge success; they even helped us get some of the homeless off America's streets."

Her brow furrowed as she considered her next words. "The Australian program, from its inception, has been understated. Hardly any press coverage, and that's despite its success." She shrugged. "I imagine that's because homelessness and poverty aren't popular in the media." She cleared her throat with a cough. "The UN program is just as understated. They are resettling hundreds of thousands of people from some of the worst conditions on the planet. And," she paused to reinforce the point, "And they are doing it without any additional funding."

Melody's eyes widened, and she shrugged. "This all sounds like it's good news. Why does the President want me to get involved?"

Joanna gave a slight shake of her head. "The only additional insight I can give is that the program has extremely tight security. The reason is touted as the security and safety of the refugees, which I quite understand." She sighed. "That said, the security is much tighter than anything else I've seen." She looked at Ruben. "The President was interested in how the program was put together. Such as where the refugees went, how they travelled, and what they ate. That sort of thing." Her mouth turned down at the corners, and her eyes opened as she pursed her lips. "Apart from information already available to the public, I couldn't add more detail."

Ruben had been tapping the table with his fingertips, lips tight in distaste. He looked at the WestProtect pair, then Joanna. His eyes finally settled on Melody. "The President was informed about a potential new technology discovered in Australia."

His lips went flat again as he tried to keep his mouth shut. He'd disagreed with the President when he'd been tasked with attending this meeting. He'd particularly disagreed with including Secretary of State Miles and Permanent Advisor Mitchell; he was concerned about breaching their current tight security around Step technology. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly as he shook his head. "Only a very few people know what I am about to tell you."

He nodded in the direction of Tom and Elias. "Around a year ago, WestProtect came across an Australian experimenting with a technology." He frowned. "This technology, at first glance, looked like it could revolutionise the delivery of small packages." He paused and considered his words. "The technology had the potential to make that delivery instantly." Ruben paused as Melody and Joanna looked at each other and digested his meaning. "That technology could also revolutionise warfare." The WestProtect men sat back in their chairs and nodded as Melody's eyes took in the three men. She looked at Joanna and watched her understanding kick in, first with shock, then anger and finally, fear.

Melody nodded slowly. "You tried to 'acquire' the technology?"

Tom Sheridan spoke for the first time. "We saw the technology as an existential threat to the USA if the wrong people got their hands on it and developed it further." His head gave a tic, and he frowned. "We were unable to acquire the technology. However, we did discover the technology had capabilities far beyond anything we had imagined." He shrugged. "We took it to the President."

Melody inclined her head. "And he agreed." It was a statement, not a question. Her gaze hardened, and she turned to Ruben. "What convinced him?"

Ruben looked at Tom and then back at Melody. "We believe they have used the technology to find another planet," he held her eyes, "and to colonise it."

Melody frowned, then sat back and smiled. "You're joking! Right?"

Ruben shook his head, lips a tight line. "I'm afraid not." He looked at Tom and shrugged. "WestProtect were on the verge of taking possession of the technology in Australia, but the people and technology vanished."

"Vanished?"

"Vanished."

Melody looked at Tom, a question in her eyes. "Vanished?"

Tom's face fell, and he looked at the table before looking back up at Melody. "We'd been monitoring them for weeks—people, vehicles, supplies." He shook his head. "When our main force arrived, we entered the premises, and it was empty. There were traces of them, but the people, technology and supplies had all gone." He frowned. It was as if they had turned to air and vanished."

Melody turned her attention to Joanna, who was still looking shocked by what she was hearing, her eyes darting from person to person without focusing on any of them. "Joanna." When Joanna didn't answer, she spoke more loudly. "Joanna!" Joanna jerked as though slapped. She blinked and dragged her eyes and attention to Melody. "Have you heard anything about this at the UN?"

Joanna shook her head. She turned to Tom, eyes narrowed, then focused again on Melody. "No. Nothing. Why would..". She closed her mouth with a snap and remained silent.

Melody turned her attention to Ruben. "How certain are we?"

Ruben sensed that Melody had assimilated the information and understood the ramifications. "We're as close to being certain as anything can be without eyeballing it first-hand." He scratched the back of his neck and raised an eyebrow. "Apart from what we know about the technology, the Australian NewHope program has 'rehoused' over three hundred thousand people in a few months." He looked up from under his eyebrows. "The refugee resettlement has seen more than twice that number 'resettled'." He sat back and took a deep breath. "Where?" He shrugged. "Since we, or WestProtect, have been watching, we have seen no significant population or technology alerts picked up by our satellite coverage." He gave his head a tired shake. "The only scenario that fits what we know is that these people are going somewhere underground.." He smiled as though that was a silly idea. "Or to another planet."

Joanna looked askance at each of the others and started shaking her head. "But why keep it a secret? Something so amazing? Surely Australia, or whoever invented this, would tell the world immediately." She looked puzzled. "It could change the world. It would be worth billions." Her head jerked, and she looked at Ruben. "Trillions?"

Melody and Ruben caught each other's eye before Melody smiled for Joanna's benefit. "Why, indeed." Her eyes narrowed. "Joanna, you realise that we must keep this confidential. The President is looking for answers, and it would be catastrophic if this got out to other parties."

Joanna swallowed before locking eyes with Melody. "Oh yes! I understand perfectly." She was about to say more but decided to keep quiet. She, instead, looked to Ruben. "What do you need from me? My access to the program is only peripheral, but I may be able to find out more if I look."

Ruben sat back. It was Joanna's position in the UN that they needed. "Let me think on that." He looked at his watch. "I need to make a call. Let's break for a few minutes while I get it done."

Ruben left the room and motioned to the floor's security office. Given the nature of the discussion, one of his operatives had been stationed there to ensure there were no unexpected security issues. He called him over. "Walk with me, will you?" As they walked, Ruben talked until they reached the elevator. The man pushed the call button and left the building as Ruben made a quick phone call. Happy with the result, he returned to the meeting room.

Reuben reentered the room as a tense discussion was in progress. Tom Sheridan was finishing an observation that by easing the refugee situation, America would lose influence in the Middle East. "By having the camps and their inherent problems, we gain leverage and retain our standing and control. If the camps go, then we'll not have.."

Joanna Mitchell interrupted aggressively. "That is not what America stands for! How can you suggest we want the suffering and starvation to continue to gain a power advantage!" She looked at Melody and Ruben. "That's not what we're about!"

She glared at Sheridan with a stony expression and didn't notice Ruben locking eyes with Melody and shaking his head slightly. "If this is true, then all of us have an opportunity to end this suffering. There would be resources for all."

Tom folded his lips and shrugged. He put on a smile and raised his brows at Joanna. "You may be right, Joanna." He paused. "But, by the same token, the Australians may be after something themselves." He turned towards Melody. "We need to cover off the bases."

Melody's eyes narrowed. "We need to play this well diplomatically and in the UN." She pursed her lips and glanced towards Joanna before catching the eyes of the others. "Let's close on this for the moment." She sat back. "I want to talk with the President before getting too tactical."

***

It was the first official StepWorld Council meeting, and it sounded urgent. Once the twelve councillors were present, Ken Hayden took to the podium.

"My friends, a short while ago, we received an alert from the Step Field Detectors set up around Earth. Unlike other alerts, this one appears to be generated by a successful Step conducted by another party." He paused to let the information sink in. "The Step was traced to a facility located in Colorado in the United States and follows a series of incomplete Steps at that location." He looked up. "WestProtect owns the facility."

Harry Barnes turned to Stan Moreton with a frown but turned back to Ken without commenting.

Ken nodded. "You are right to be concerned." He raised his eyes and shrugged. "But they still have a long way to go before they pose a threat." He looked at Harry. "Codie and the security team are monitoring the activity. MilSec is recording data associated with any successful Steps so we know where they are going and what they have onboard their test modules." He shrugged. "We can interfere with their test program if we decide to. That will be one of the decisions we need to make."

Ken looked at Dennis Crossing, who had been voted in as Chairperson by the Council members. "Dennis, we have James Kentley, General Macaulay and Bruce Whiting waiting outside."

Dennis took a breath to settle his unease. "Let's have them in, then. He stood and started towards some chairs at the side of the room. "Get a couple more chairs for them."

The three newcomers were ushered to the table and sat amongst the council. Dennis resumed his seat, eschewing the podium. "As a market gardener, I don't have the knowledge to help us in this situation. He looked at James and shrugged. "James, what's your take on this?"

James gave Dennis a nod before quickly scanning the others at the table. His eyes narrowed. "Firstly, there's no need to get overly concerned or make hasty decisions." He frowned. "The situation is significant but was expected at some time given WestProtect's ongoing search for the technology." He looked up. "The key thing is they still have a long way to go to build the knowledge needed to turn the Step field into something they can control." He lifted his eyes. "According to the Step Intrusion Beacon, their Step did not move whilst in the past." He turned to Jerry and shrugged. "Any thoughts on their AI capabilities, Jerry?"

Jerry Bos sat forward and shook his head. "They have the capabilities of AI4U and anything else developed in the States. Even without the improvements we have developed, a simple AI, should they use one, could help them get results similar to Quinn in our early exploration stage." He coughed to clear his throat as the memory of their early security failings came to mind. "In one way, they have a head start in knowing how we used Quinn to measure and analyse Step data. It's no great leap for them to use a probe to search like we did."

James nodded in agreement. "Much along my line of thought, Jerry."

He looked back to Ken Hayden. "Ken?"

Ken raised his eyes and tilted his head. "Knowing WestProtect as we do, they'll approach their discovery aggressively and try to weaponise it." He looked across the table to Bruce Whiting. "Sir, I'd be taking proactive measures to put your security teams on high alert for the Prime Minister and others in the government who are involved with NewHope." He shifted his eyes to General Macaulay. "Mac, MilSec should be able to keep on top of their activity but, again, increase your readiness just in case." He redirected his focus to James. "We can't underestimate them the way they have underestimated us." His eyes hardened. "We need to consider that they will develop some form of shielding so we can't sense their Steps. How could they do that? What can we do to counteract it?"

James looked surprised and cocked his head as he considered the question. He looked at Jerry and rubbed his chin in thought. "I'll get onto it straight away. Jerry, let's get together with Imogen and Olivia after this."

Ken gave a curt nod. "In this work, recognising a problem is the top priority. It's what gives you time and control. Anything else you can do to help us know a situation exists and how it develops is critical. The fact I can fight back is secondary; even the best can be blindsided and overwhelmed." He looked, again, at James. "Early warning is critical. The SIB already gives us some advantages, but can we improve them?" His eyes narrowed. "Take it to the next level and beyond. Use whatever resources you have." He sat back. "Ensure we can see what's going on. That way, we can work on nullifying any threats, both technical and human."

Ken turned his attention to Dennis. "That's all I have for the moment. Codie will update us on any measures we need to take as needed."

Dennis smiled grimly. "Thanks, Ken." He turned to Australia's Deputy PM. "Bruce? Anything you'd like to add?"

Bruce Whiting placed his elbows on the table and his chin on his clasped hands. "We've got a lot going on at the moment with the startup of the UN Resettlement program." He gave his head a slight shake. "There are so many people involved and, apart from the Embassy structure, it is impossible to ensure security." He sat back and raised his eyebrows. "I am not sure what impact this will have on anything we're doing or if there's any impact at all."

Alice Poole raised a hand. "From my perspective, WestProtect shouldn't have any impact on the migration process unless they start to Step bombs into the Embassies, which I don't think is likely at this time." She looked at the others around the table. "Lauren? Megan? What do you think? Any issues for the resettlement program?"

Megan shook her head. "Not unless, as you say, there is some physical interruption. The vestibule access to the Embassies is solid, and the people inside are all trusted. The only wildcard is the refugees, but to date, they have all focused on survival." She shrugged. "MilSec is keeping an eye on operations as well, so I can't see any issues there."

Lauren shrugged and nodded. "I agree with Megan concerning the program itself." She frowned. "The only trouble I can envisage is if WestProtect threatens the UN and causes it to stop the program."

Bruce nodded his understanding. "Okay then. As far as the government is concerned, we shouldn't do anything in response to this development apart from heightened awareness."

Chapter 25

Jenny Sneddon leaned back against a UN portable office. She was in the shade and sitting on a couple of mattresses. She’d travelled to Turkiye to cover the UN Resettlement Embassy opening in the Osmaniye refugee camp close to the Syrian border, where she had organised an interview with one of the project managers through a UN friend. She was an independent writer and was looking to get some insight into how the Embassies worked. The project manager was late, but that wasn’t a surprise; nothing much ran to a reliable schedule out here.

What she knew about the resettlement initiative was negligible. The details from the UN were sketchy, but the effectiveness of the Embassies in Ethiopia had amazed the world, and nobody knew how the logistics worked. In short, over two hundred thousand people had been relocated in less than a month. They had been relocated to a secure area provided by Australia, but nobody knew exactly where that was or how those refugees were faring.

The sound of a truck approaching broke Jenny’s thoughts. She looked up, hoping to see the Embassy staff arriving. Instead, it was a maintenance vehicle, probably to work on the fencing or water supply. A man jumped out of the back of the truck as it slowed down at the gate. He waved thanks to the driver and walked across to the portable office.

He was dressed in faded jeans, scuffed boots and a loose T-shirt. Apart from being tall, his appearance was nondescript. He knocked on the door of the office and removed his sunglasses. Jenny looked up at him. “There’s nobody there at the moment. They’ve gone to investigate a brawl inside the camp. I believe they’ll be back in around twenty minutes or so.” The man stepped back from the door and turned to face her. “Thanks for letting me know.” He looked around and returned his attention to Jenny. “I’m Phil Buckley.”

“Jenny Sneddon. It's good to meet you.” Phil shook hands with Jenny and continued, “I’m looking to volunteer some time to these folks if needed. What do you do here?”

Jenny smiled and stood, brushing dust off her slacks. “I’m a reporter. I'm here to get some insight into the Embassy they’re opening.” Phil looked interested and nodded. Jenny continued. “They’ll be happy to have skilled help for sure. What do you do?”

Phil chuckled. “Pretty much anything on an organising side. My background is construction, but I’ve also done my fair share of production line design.” Now Jenny was interested. “So, what are you doing here? Why aren’t you working for some big company and making lots of money?”

Phil laughed. “That's what I used to do. I built up my own company and received an offer I couldn’t refuse. I sold the business some time ago for way more than I’d ever imagined.” He spread his hands. “I decided to give my time and expertise to people who needed it, so I came out here to see if I could help.”

“That’s very noble of you.”

“Not really. I enjoy new things and challenges; it’s selfish in a way. Hopefully, both sides will benefit.”

Jenny looked up as a utility pulled into the space in front of the office. “Here’s my ride and interview. Good Luck to you, Phil.” He smiled and shook Jenny’s hand. “And good luck to you, Jenny. Perhaps we’ll bump into each other sometime.”

With a final “Bye,” she got into the vehicle, and it drove to the site of the new Embassy.

Jenny turned to the man driving the car and smiled as he waited for the gate to be opened so they could enter the camp. "My name's Jenny. Thanks for the time."

The man turned and gave Jenny a huge smile. "Chigozie," he grinned. My friends call me Gozie." He said a few words to the security team at the gate and then started slowly along a dusty road. People were everywhere and didn't get much above walking pace most of the time.

Jenny took the opportunity to get to know Gozie a bit more. "You're from Nigeria, right?"

Gozie laughed. "My accent, eh?"

Jenny shrugged and nodded. "That. And your smile!"

Gozie laughed again. "Lagos." He looked across the seat. "You?"

"Kiwi-born but a bit of a nomad now."

Gozie's brow furrowed, and he tilted his head for more.

Jenny chuckled. "Kiwi, as New Zealand." She twitched an eye. "Nomad, as in I travel a lot to write about people. Usually, people in trouble from war, famine - that sort of thing."

Gozie lifted his head and nodded. "Ah. I understand." He smiled again. "Who do you write for?"

Jenny pursed her lips. "Nobody. I'm independent." She shrugged. "If the story's any good, I sell it."

Gozie pondered that for a moment but didn't say anything. They were silent until they reached a temporary chain-link fence. Inside, Jenny saw a large group finishing the assembly of a prefab building that looked like an aircraft hangar.

Gozie leaned out of his window and called to a guard wearing a UN-tagged uniform. After a quick check, the gate opened, and they drove to a temporary parking area where a few trucks and 4WD vehicles were parked.

Gozie opened his door. "Here we are. Let's go find somewhere to talk out of the sun."

They reached a good-sized shed off one side of the prefab. As they were passing the new structure, Gozie pointed to the corrugated siding. "This is the Embassy building." He looked down its length. "It will be complete in another hour or so, and then we can go inside and look around."

Jenny frowned. "How long will it take to fit it out?"

"Fit it out?"

"Jenny shrugged. "Meeting rooms, toilets, kitchen.. that sort of thing."

"Ah." Gozie smiled and shrugged. "The Australians sort that out themselves. They're expected to complete it overnight and have equipment on the way."

Jenny nodded and looked impressed. "That's pretty good if they can do it overnight! They must have it down to a fine art!"

When they reached the shed, Gozie opened the door. Before they entered, he pointed to the side away from the embassy, where there were rows and rows of people who looked like they were waiting.

Gozie smiled. "The first group that will be moving through the embassy. They expect to be on the way to resettlement early tomorrow morning." He shook his head. I am looking forward to seeing their journey begin." He shook his head, and his eyes darkened for the first time Jenny had noticed. They have been suffering here for much too long!"

They entered the small office and talked over a glass of water.

Gozie couldn't give Jenny much information despite his involvement in the project from the start. He'd been responsible for selecting the site, clearing and levelling, and completing the embassy building. He'd also had joint responsibility for security, a top priority involving selecting local workers, where needed, and access to the site. Jenny asked who else was responsible for protection, and he shrugged. "An Aussie. I liaised with a few different people but, most often, a fellow named Matt Wallace."

Jenny scribbled a note. "Is he around today? I'd like to talk with him."

Gozie shrugged a shoulder. "I haven't seen him today, but expect someone for the fit-out."

Jenny asked a few questions about how they expected to transport people in and out of the embassy, but Gozie could only shrug. "All I know is that the security is tight. It's to protect the refugee's well-being." He stood. "Come with me."

They left the office and made their way back towards the car park. Jenny noticed that the activity around the embassy building had tailed off, and only a few people were around. She also noted there were no windows in the building. The only opening she could see was a large shutter at her end. She assumed that another was in place at the far end. The shutter she could see was being tested, and she was surprised to see a second wall inside the building with its own shutter that was closed. Jenny frowned, puzzled. "Gozie? What's that wall inside the door?"

Gozie looked to where Jenny was pointing. The roller was halfway down, but he could see what Jenny was interested in. "Ah, yes. They called it a vestibule. When someone arrives, they come in through the outer door. They then wait until the outer door closes before the inner door is opened, and they can continue inside." He raised his eyebrows. "As I said, they take security extremely seriously."

Jenny frowned and made another note. "Can you get me inside for a look?"

Gozie shook his head. "Even I am not authorised to enter the inner zone. From the moment it was completed, that area has been under Embassy control."

Jenny sighed. She'd have liked to understand the physical layout better than she did, but it was the people she was most interested in. With a shrug, she put it out of her mind and followed Gozie to the parking area.

They walked past a row of trucks, and a neat row of five dark green buses came into view. The buses had opaque windows; even the driver's window was darkened. Gozie stopped when they were ten metres away. "These are the buses they will use to move refugees around. They have access roads into and out of the Embassy and are impervious to scrutiny. The refugees' identities will be secure, and so will their safety from any physical interference."

Jenny scratched her head, and her eyes crinkled with thought. "It's a bit over the top, isn't it?"

Gozie shrugged. "In this place, no security is over the top!"

Jenny sighed and chuckled to herself. "I suppose that's true." She shook her head. "What else can you show me?"

Gozie looked around them. "Nothing much for the moment. The embassy structure is complete, and we must wait for the Australians to arrive." As he talked, a bus like the green ones in the parking area came up the reserved access road and paused as the outer shutter was raised. It drove in and halted as the outer shutter closed.

Gozie smiled. "That's them now." He started towards the building. "Let's see if Matt Wallace is here."

He punched a code into an intercom, and a woman's voice answered. "Yes?"

"It's Gozie Gbadamosi. Is Matt Wallace here?"

"Gozie! It's Mary Harding. How are you?"

"I'm good! It looks like you're moving in now?"

A small door to the side of the shutter opened, and a woman stepped out before shutting it behind her. Jenny could just make out the edges of the door, which she'd not noticed earlier.

Mary looked at Jenny and gave her a smile before shaking Gozie's hand. "Yes, Gozie. All the prep has been completed, and we're starting the final set-up." She smiled. "We should be up and running later tonight."

Gozie noticed Mary looking at Jenny and held a hand towards Jenny. "This is Jenny Sneddon. She's a journalist who is interested in how the Embassy works." He smiled and shrugged. "I told her that you have tight security, but you may give her a look if she asked."

Jenny looked at Mary. "Not a journalist. Not in the strictest sense, anyway." She gave Mary her most engaging smile. "I freelance - mostly covering groups of people in strife. If my articles are good enough, I sell my work to some of the larger independent services."

Mary frowned in thought, then smiled. "Let's see if I can show you the inside. It's not ready for full operations yet, but we're close."

Jenny looked surprised and excited at the possibility. "That would be great if we could. I'd appreciate it."

Mary said, "Hang on." She walked a short distance away, one hand to her ear and one to her mouth. "MilSec, is there anything known about Jenny Sneddon?"

MilSec responded through Mary's earpiece. "Nothing untoward. Independent journalist, as she has stated."

"She could be a good person to allow limited access into the processing building. Please check with Codie."

Mary turned towards Jenny and waved a finger to indicate she was waiting.

MilSec came back quickly. "Codie agrees."

Mary smiled and turned back to Jenny. "It's been given the okay. I can give you a general appraisal of what we do, but some areas will be closed."

Jenny blinked in surprise. As far as she knew, nobody had ever got a look inside an Embassy. She may have a scoop of sorts. "Wow! Thanks, Mary!"

Mary laughed. "It's not as exciting as you may think. Let's go look." She looked to Gozie. "You want to come as well?"

Gozie shrugged and grinned. "I might as well. I'll be able to see what all my good work is being used for!"

Mary smiled and keyed a code into the wall pad. The door opened. "Follow me."

Entering the Embassy through the concealed door, they found themselves in a space roughly square and fifteen metres to the side. Mary indicated the area with a twirl of her hand. "This vestibule is designed to allow vehicles and personnel into the embassy without the interior being visible to anyone outside." She narrowed her eyes. "We do this to protect our technologies and processes and the people coming through for resettlement."

Jenny nodded. "Is it that important? What would someone outside be interested in?"

Mary acknowledged the question and shrugged. "The resettlement program has many elements, and the people involved are vulnerable from start to finish." Her lips tightened. "When we designed the NewHope scheme in Australia, we determined then that we'd do everything we could to ensure we didn't have an outage, a security slip or a systems failure." She gave a tight smile. So far, we've not had any incidents and want to keep it that way."

Jenny grinned. "You're right on that. The story would break if there were a problem; if everything works, nobody wants to know."

Mary tilted her head in agreement. "Let's go inside." She entered another code into the keypad on the inner wall, and a similarly concealed door disengaged and opened. Mary waved a hand to Jenny and Gozie. "After you."

Jenny stepped into the inner area. It was a large space. She was surprised to see that a series of rooms had already been erected on the left side of the central region and a large seating area set up for a hundred or so people. She also noticed a series of tables had been set with plates, glasses, cutlery and other bits and pieces for meals. The rooms, seating and food tables occupied perhaps three-quarters of the available space. The vacant area, located to the right, was kept clear for transport. A bus was parked to the right of a roadway marked out in yellow diagonal stripes. It looked to Jenny as though there was space for another one or two of the vehicles.

Gozie scratched his head. "That was quick! Not long ago, this was vacant space." He looked at Mary, a puzzled frown on his face.

Mary smiled. "We've done this so often that it's a streamlined process now." She pointed towards the bus. "The frames for the rooms are carried in the luggage area along with the tables. Chairs are stacked in the rear third of the bus. The rest is us." As she said this last, she pointed to herself and the half dozen or so staff they could see carrying things and finishing up.

Mary walked to the back row of chairs and sat, indicating that Jenny and Gozie joined her. "When the refugees arrive, they are usually disoriented and fearful." She motioned towards the buildings at the far end of the space. "We tell them where the bathrooms are and invite them to drink and eat if needed. Most take up both offers." She shrugged sadly. "After around a half hour, they begin to settle, and we ask them to take a seat, or stand if they prefer, as we explain what the resettlement program means." She looked at Jenny. "Do you know anything about the NewHope program?"

Jenny nodded. "Some. I do know about the rehousing talk. I've interviewed some people who declined for one reason or another."

Mary nodded. "It's much the same here, if a bit simpler. We let them know that it's one-way resettlement for the time being. Once they've moved, there is no returning to the refugee camps or wherever they called home previously." Her mouth drooped as she thought about some of the people she'd seen come through the embassies in Ethiopia, but she shook the sadness off. "Most are just happy to feel like there's a life tomorrow and are more than happy to let the past go." Her eyes were hooded. "Some are just so fearful that they can't make a decision. It's like their ability to make a choice has been switched off."

Jenny frowned. "How do you approach them?"

Mary chuckled softly to herself and sighed. "We couldn't! We must have looked like aliens… well fed, dressed, confident, smiling. We were too different." She took a deep breath and looked Jenny in the eye. "We went back to some of the people who had already resettled and asked them if they could come and talk to people like them who didn't know what to do." She smiled. "It worked!" She pointed across to the rooms at the side. "They get the opportunity to talk it over with people who have been in their situation. Nobody who has gone into a room unsure has turned down the resettlement offer."

Jenny scribbled a few notes and looked at Mary when she was finished.

Mary grinned. "That's it! That's all we do." She indicated the door behind her. "They come in. Hear the offer. They leave out the far vestibule." She shrugged. "It's as simple as that!"

Jenny tilted her head, and her eyes twitched. "Okay… So, what happens when they leave on the bus?"

Mary smiled and shook her head. "Now, that's an area I can't go. Where the resettlement is made or how they get there is highly classified. We use multiple paths and multiple means of transport. Think of it like we're changing routes and modes for a national leader on a trip to the airport." She grinned. "I can say that they get to where they are being resettled safely and securely."

Jenny chuckled and put her notepad away. "Thanks for the insights and the tour, Mary. Can I take a couple of photos?"

Mary acknowledged the thanks and pulled an envelope from her inside jacket pocket. The envelope looked thick, like cardboard. Mary opened the flap and pulled out a smaller, unsealed envelope. She handed it to Jenny. "Will these do?"

Jenny opened the envelope and looked inside to find five high-resolution, colour photographs of the inner embassy. They gave views of the general layout, the bathrooms and one of the meeting rooms. There was even a shot of the bus on the other side of the room across from the seating. She didn't notice until later that the shot of the bus included the three of them sitting in the back row.

***

Media Report

The United States' new Permanent Representative and Ambassador to the United Nations, Mr Robert Tait, is a senior officer with the Department of Commerce and, previously, Homeland Security. He has also served overseas in various capacities. Mr Tait succeeds Ms Joanna Mitchell, who died suddenly after a heart attack.

Mr Tait, in his new role, is committed to continuing the important work started by Ms Mitchell. He deeply respects her legacy and the significant contributions she made. Mr Tait has expressed a keen interest in understanding the Resettlement Pathway, a key focus of Ms Mitchell's tenure. To this end, his first action as Ambassador will be to organise a tour for delegates to review the program and witness its impact firsthand, a testament to his commitment to continuity and stability.

Chapter 26

Alice sat back as Ken's face got darker.

Ken shook his head. "I should have bloody well-known something like this would happen! I'm an idiot!"

Codie waved a hand at Ken's anger. "It's my responsibility, mate. Don't stress over it. It had to happen sometime regardless of anything we could have done to stop it." He shrugged. "What we have to do now is find out who sent the message, who to and what they said." He sighed and scratched his beard. "That's after we let the Council know what's happened."

Ken shook his head. "We'll have to keep it quiet. We don't want to spook the person or persons involved. I can advise the Council but let's have a word with James and Stan Moreton first, eh?"

Codie grunted and frowned. "Better get to it then." He glanced towards the monitor on the near wall. "ICS. Call James Kentley and Major Moreton for an urgent meeting as soon as they can manage it."

The ICS responded with, "Calling now."

A chirp sounded, followed by a second chirp shortly after. "Meeting scheduled to start in five minutes in Major Moreton's command hut."

Codie smiled grimly. "Acknowledged."

He turned to Ken. "They know it's important, given we've never asked for an urgent meeting. Grab the logs, and let's go."

As they walked to the command hut, Codie considered the issue. Many people and activities occurred due to the immigration program, and the Karma colony made excellent progress. Being responsible for security, Codie's focus had always been firmly fixed on technology and people, as these were the areas of vulnerability. He was realistic enough to know that the more people they had, the higher the risk of being compromised. He shook his head and grunted.

"What?" asked Ken

Codie gave a grim chuckle. "Just thinking to myself. The more people who know what's going on, the more likely one of them will have an agenda we're not aware of." He frowned. "We can't trust everyone here, so we limit communications and access where we can, but someone else has another motive. My experience tells me it's someone intentionally inserted from a hostile player on Earth, but it could easily be greed, politics, or fear." He paused a moment. "Even stupidity!" He snorted. "Whatever it is, we must find them and see if we can control the damage." His eyes narrowed. "And we've got to plug the leak!"

Ken nodded; he respected Codie. If anyone could sort this out, it would be Codie. Ken's skills were unique. Honed in conflict, he would use them if a more personal engagement was required.

They entered the command hut and were directed to Major Stan Moreton's office at the back. James rose to greet them. "Alice. Codie. Ken. I haven't seen you for a week or so. What's got you worked up?"

As they sat and got themselves organised, Codie motioned towards Alice. "Alice has been implementing a series of operational metrics relating to Steps, exploration and comms." He cocked his head and gave a small smile Alice's way. "Tell them what you found, Alice. It'll be better than me trying to translate."

Alice smiled. Before moving to Karma, she had been SplitQC's Office Manager. One of the things she decided to spend time on was automating the basic transactional metrics most modern businesses use to manage operational performance and costs. "As you know, I've been working with Quinn to set up automatic data collection regarding Step events." She shrugged. "Apart from using the statistics we gather to improve processes such as exploration algorithms, we also try to identify outliers or events that are different enough that we want to know more about them." She narrowed her eyes and looked directly at James. "An alert came up on the weekly ICS report for two communication events to Earth from a general ICS hub."

James looked at Major Moreton and back to Alice. "A general hub is one available to anyone in the colony. Why was it logged as unusual?"

Alice nodded. "It was unusual in two respects. First, the time of the communication was outside normal hours for general ICS usage." Her expression darkened. The second was that the person using the ICS was logged as 'anonymous.'

"Anonymous?" asked Major Moreton. "How could it be anonymous?"

Alice shook her head and turned to Codie. "I'm not aware of how the AI processes its interactions with people, but there must be some way for a person to obscure their identity." She shrugged. "In any case, all we have is the data available to us, and, at this stage, the caller is unknown."

James frowned. "What about the other end? On Earth?"

Alice shook her head again. "The call was to an internet address. We don't know where it was routed."

James breathed out and shook his head. "It had to happen eventually. I just wish I felt we were better prepared for it." He nodded towards Alice. "Thanks, Alice. That's great work and already invaluable."

Alice nodded, accepting the thanks, and James turned back to Codie. "Let me get Harry and Jerry into this now. We're going to need their help."

Major Moreton's eyes narrowed. "I've got a couple of teams having time off on the new R&R planet, Shibui." He worried his lower lip with his teeth. "I wouldn't like to call them back into action if I can help it."

Codie shook his head. "I don't think you'll need to interrupt their stay, Major. We can't do much anyway until we determine who is involved and what information has got out."

***

The Transport Vehicle's hatch swung open, allowing a flood of sunlight and warm, scented air to fill the space. The Step from Karma had been a mere half an hour, but as the five weary individuals stepped into Shibui's welcome garden, they felt as if they had entered a different realm, a sanctuary of peace and rejuvenation.

Linh and three uniformed staff members waited by the entrance to the main lounge. They were smiling and had a welcome in their eyes.

"Welcome to Shibui." Linh spread her hands in invitation. "I am Mai Linh, but you can call me Linh." She pointed to each of the others. "These are Jeremy, April and Bardi. They will help you find your lodgings and settle in."

Philippa dug an elbow into Leo's ribs. Leo jumped back. "Ouch. What was that for?"

Philippa looked at him sideways. "Just sayin'. Cool, eh?"

Bronte, leader of the exploration team, raised her eyes in disbelief and chuckled. "Like kids in a candy store."

Despite their professional demeanour, the team's anticipation for the upcoming two weeks of leave was palpable. 'C'mon,' Bronte, the leader of the exploration team, urged. Let's go have some fun!'

They met with the welcome team and were soon on a six-star magic carpet ride designed to slough off stress, encourage peace and reacquaint the soldiers with civilisation's finest relaxed activities. The soldiers' faces lit up with excitement as they anticipated the top-of-the-line cuisine and entertainment.

Linh smiled delightedly as she ushered the vacationers into the lounge. "We only have two rules on Shibui." She looked at the group with a serious expression. "Rule one, Treat everyone, all life and the environment, with respect." She grinned. "We're all doing what we want to do." A shrug. "Just like you are." She smiled again, her warmth evident. "And, rule two, have fun! Enjoy yourselves, and relax. Enjoy Shibui, its people, the environment and its bounty." Linh's smile was gentle as she looked at each of the five soldiers. "By the time you are ready to return to work, we want you all to be recharged in body and with a mind clear of dross."

Malakai, one of the grunts, held out a hand. "Thanks Linh. It's been a long time since we had a decent breather." He frowned and looked at his teammates. "Although exploring new planets is not like a war zone, it does have its moments." He gave a wry smile. "My name's Malakai," he hooked a thumb in the direction of his friends, "They call me 'Mace'." He looked back to Linh and included her staff as his eyes found hers. "I, for one, and my friends, really appreciate your idea of creating a space for R&R on Shibui." His eyes went back to his friends. "It looks like a beautiful world."

Bronte looked at Malakai, her jaw open wide. "He can talk! Who'd a thunk it!"

Malakai rubbed his forehead and shook his head as his mates laughed.

Linh smiled at the banter. "It is working already." She looked around. "Come on, let's get you settled into your accommodation. Meet back here in an hour, and we'll give you an overview of what's where."

Five days later, on his third day alone, Malakai was in a kayak. 'On his own' is a bit off the complete truth, as he was always hooked into the ICS if needed. But he was on his own and loving it. At this moment, he was paddling slowly up a small river. Tall trees overhanging the river banks provided pools of shade and interest to his peace-seeking eye and brain.

A hoot sounded from the forest canopy, and he dipped the paddle into the water to stop the kayak's progress. Malakai tilted his head and squinted at the treetops when the hooting started again. His efforts were rewarded when he glimpsed a group of chokura moving slowly upstream. He stilled the kayak and watched quietly as they feasted on the ripening seeds at the top of the trees. Those young enough to play did so, skittering like monkeys and seeming to play a game of tag. The chokura were agile and could catch a branch easily if their first attempt missed. The young appeared to enjoy the game of grab and miss as they chased after each other. Now and then, an adult would issue a warning cough if the game got too close to the serious business of eating.

After a half hour or so, the group started to move off and was soon just a noise in the forest. Malakai sat back in his kayak and closed his eyes, listening to the fading sounds. His thoughts took him back to the native eucalyptus forests he grew up with. He remembered the koalas, wallabies, possums, and all kinds of birds, parrots, and reptiles; it was a wasteland now. The native forests were logged for wood chips, and the miners moved in, looking for coal and gas. He sighed. There was no point grieving for what had gone. He looked around and smiled. It is much better to focus on what they have now and protect it.

He checked the sun's position and decided to make an early camp. He paddled back downstream and reached the lake in under an hour. Once there, he stowed the paddle and sat back. "Shibby, can you power up the water jet and get me to one of the overnights?" His question was answered with a gentle vibration as the motor at the rear of the kayak powered up and started moving the vessel at the pace of a fast walk. Shibby was an AI dedicated to the whims of visitors to the resort planet. Malakai closed his eyes, the wind ruffling his hair. He could feel his sense of calm increasing daily as he soaked up the peace and re-balanced after the stresses of exploring the unknown. He usually camped alone, happy with the silence, but after the encounter with the chokura, he felt open to some company. "Shibby, happy to have company if anyone else is about," Malakai grunted as he felt the direction of the kayak change fractionally.

He paddled the last kilometre himself. The sun was setting behind him, its last rays sending gold and orange rays between the islands. In front of him, a wooden jetty glowed in the light. Like most structures on Shibui, the jetty's timber was new and hadn't yet developed the softening grey that would come with age.

He beached the kayak in a small, sandy cove adjacent to the jetty and pulled it higher onto the grass. As he collected his small amount of gear, a voice called out. "Need a hand?"

Malakai looked in the direction of the voice and saw a young, black woman walking towards him. She was in her late teens or early twenties, lanky and sporting a smile reflected in her eyes. Malakai smiled back at her and shook his head. "No thanks, I haven't much gear with me." He held up a small backpack and a collapsed fishing rig.

The woman cocked her head. "No fish?"

Malakai laughed. "No, no fish." He turned his eyes back towards the last of the twilight and the lake and smiled softly. "I got caught up with the lake and forest."

The woman hummed in agreement. "Yes, I can understand that. It is very beautiful."

Malakai turned back and started walking towards the group of huts further up the gentle slope. As he approached the woman, he swung his backpack onto his shoulder and held out his hand. "Malakai Nunn. Pleased to meet you."

The woman smiled. "Hani. Hani Sahra. I'm with Shibui."

Malakai cocked his head in thought. "Hani? That's Somali, is it not?"

Hani's smile grew wider. "That is correct. How do you know this?"

Malakai chuckled and talked as they walked up the gentle slope to a cluster of huts. "We had a Somali medic attached to my unit back on Earth." His eyes drifted in memory. "She used to talk about her daughter now and then when we were stood down." His face fell into a slight frown. "Her daughter's name was Hani." He frowned, then shook off his mood and looked up with a smile. "The name's stuck in my memory. Means 'Happy', if I remember right?"

Hani chose to ignore whatever bad memory Malakai had and focused on his smile. "That's right." She grinned. "That's why I smile a lot!" She looked at him, eyes wide. "You seem to be fairly happy yourself. Enjoying your stay on Shibui?"

"Absolutely! It's fantastic!" He looked around. "And beautiful!" His eyes glittered with his enthusiasm. "I can't believe I can get away from everything so easily. I haven't seen a soul in nearly three days. It's perfect!"

Hani laughed. "I know what you mean. It's very different to masses of people running around, surviving."

They'd stopped in front of a well-camouflaged bungalow. Malakai coughed a chuckle. "You wouldn't know it's a standard half-house size quonset hut produced by a computer-controlled factory in the depths of space." He shook his head and sent Hani a smile. "Thanks, Hani." He looked around. "Is there anyone else here?"

"No, just us. I was setting up some new accommodations when I got word you'd be stopping by."

Malakai nodded. "Okay. I assume you've organised something to eat."

"The mess has tubbie steaks with chips and salad or veg, or, if you're not tired of seafood, there's a new fish on the menu."

He didn't need to think too long. "I'll go with the steak and chips." He grinned. "I'm starving! I need something with a bit of bite."

Hani smiled. "I expect paddling a kayak all day can have that effect. How about you get settled in and join me in the meadow by the water." She pointed along the shore to where tables and chairs were arranged in a clearing. "The mess will Step the meal in when we're ready."

Hani and Malakai enjoyed their meals in companionable silence interspersed with general small talk about the development of Shibui and the Karma migration. As he sat back after scraping up gravy remnants, Malakai took a sip of red wine imported from Earth and looked out over the lake. He shook his head and sighed softly to himself.

Hani chuckled. "That's what I think too." She took a sip of local water and smiled. "It is wonderful here. Peaceful. Alive."

Malakai looked at her and nodded in agreement. "It must have been hard in Somalia."

Hani gave a wan smile. "It was. I lost my family to war and famine and almost myself to soldiers." She shrugged and looked at Malakai, her gaze flat. "I was lucky enough to be found by a UN courier after I was used and left for dead." She held a hand and smiled as Malakai was about to apologise for returning the memory. "Don't worry. The memories are part of me. Sometimes, I force them away; other times, I let them be free." She smiled again. "New memories are being made now. I am safe here. I have food and water." She looked around them. "I can go where I want and do what I want." She grinned and nodded. "And I can learn what I want to learn." She sniffed and shrugged. "The best thing, though, is that I have been able to rebuild my trust in people."

"How do you mean?"

Hani looked Malakai in the eye. "Karma. There is no competition. Everyone can have everything they want. People don't need to take things from other people. People don't need to be better than other people or have better things than other people." She looked across the lake and its reflection of the night sky. "People are free. You and I are free." She took a breath and let it go slowly. "That's why I trust. People don't need to take something from another because they can have anything they want here." She grinned again. "There is only one rule: respect life." She cocked her head and chuckled again. "It's so simple. Isn't it?"

Malakai shook his head and smiled. "I'm a soldier." His smile grew grim as he spoke. "As a soldier, you always think you're on the right side. You have to think that way, or you'll probably get killed." He looked down. "Sometimes soldiers wonder why, but most of the time, they just try to kill or maim whatever word is being used for this particular enemy." He looked back at Hani. "We were asked if we wanted to return to Earth for a break from Karma's security and exploration." His eyes crinkled. "Not one of us wanted to go!" His eyes moistened as he continued. "We're some of Australia's best soldiers, and we don't want to go back. Karma's changed us as well. It's not just the new worlds; it's the whole idea that we're free to live however we want to live." He caught Hani's eyes. "We're no different, you and I. I think all humans have ever wanted to do was simply live their lives. Unfortunately, our history included this need for power over others. It's a need deeply woven into Earth's social fabric, and unless you get out of the game, you can't see it." He smiled again. "Karma has changed that."

Chapter 27

Organising the visit to an Embassy was much more involved than Tess Barker had made out when the new United States Ambassador, Robert Tait, pressed for a fact-finding tour. The planning group, aided by ConMan and MilSec, decided to use the vacant NewHope site on Mornington Island. This allowed the tour to be orchestrated so that the group were responsible for getting themselves to the island. When all were ready, they were bussed to the briefing hangar and taken under the wing of Megan Faulkener.

"Welcome to UNHCR's Mornington Island Resettlement Embassy. Although not busy at the moment, it is identical in function to the other Embassies and will offer you a full appreciation of the resettlement pathway. To that end, I will brief you as if you were refugees before we move to the next stage of the trip." She smiled at her audience. "As you know, my name is Megan Faulkener, and my job is to help refugees understand what this project is all about so they can determine if the pathway is right for them." She inclined her head and frowned. "Even though resettlement means food, shelter and life, it also involves leaving one's past behind. Different landscapes, plants, neighbours. It's pretty extreme, so we make sure each participant has the chance to pull out if they want to."

A hand went up, and Megan indicated that the person should stand. "Megan, I'm George Baillie from London. I was wondering if many people turned down the offer and, if so, why?"

Megan chuckled and shook her head. "Thanks for the question, George. As of now, nobody has decided to stay where they were." She frowned. "We must remember that these people only have death or pain in front of them if they stay. The UN's refugee pathway, whilst new, is their last hope. They take it."

Megan's smile faded to a blander expression. "For reasons of their safety and security, the refugees are asked not to leave this building. There's nothing much around an Embassy, but there can be a lot of traffic. You'll only be here for a few minutes, but some of our groups can take a day or so to come together." She shrugged. "I remind them that the pathway will let them start again and reinforce that it is an entirely new start and very different to their past experience." Megan's eyes hardened. "I let them know they will not be in any debt for resettlement, and their food and shelter will be provided. Nothing fancy but solid shelter and nutritious food." She smiled. "They are provided with a home. The home is the same type that everybody in the program has and is built around a communal hub where people can get together, talk, have meals, play games, whatever." She lifted her head and grinned. "For many, that's a big change from hunting food and water all day!" There were a few nods of understanding, and she went on. "The last thing I tell them is they'll have the opportunity to learn and pursue activities that interest them." She frowned. "Some of them find that idea fearful, and others find it exciting. Most are learning to read and write English as an additional language and are looking forward to further education."

Megan reassured the group, "This program is designed to ensure your safety and security. We believe in people doing things because they want to, not because they are forced or paid. If there aren't any more questions, I'll ask you to board the green bus. It's a standard bus we use to transport refugees to the resettlement area. Like the refugees, you won't be able to see out while we're travelling, and the driver will be in an enclosed security space. This is to maintain your safety. The safety harness is slightly more secure than a standard lap belt. Once it's secured, it won't be released until you arrive at the resettlement hangar. The trip will take less than an hour and, I'm told, is very restful. You are welcome to recline your seats and relax until you arrive."

Megan ensured everyone was comfortable and then turned to the driver's compartment. She smiled as she said. "Ready for departure, Quinn. Have a good trip."

The driver responded through a speaker. "Thank you, Megan. Departure in thirty seconds."

Megan waved to the tour group and said goodbye as she exited the vehicle, closing and sealing the hatch.

A few seconds after she had moved away from the bus, it disappeared.

***

The bus appeared in a transit lounge much like the one it had left some forty minutes earlier. Inside, the tour group experienced a smooth and comfortable ride, not feeling anything but the barest whisper of sound or movement. A few men had tried to ask the driver about an apparent feeling of weightlessness. The driver responded that it was simply a function of the bus's engine and suggested they lean back in their seats and relax. The driver added that he was merely a driver and had explicit instructions from the UN as to the safety and security of his passengers. Unable to get any more information, the group finally settled into a relaxing ride.

Lauren McCann unlocked the hatch and swung open the bus's door. Stepping inside, she raised a hand in a welcoming gesture. "Welcome to Resettlement! I'm Lauren McCann, your guide for this leg of the tour." Her smile radiated warmth. "Please, come in. We have a group about to embark on the orientation process. Once that's done, we'll explore some of the settlement areas." She stepped back, allowing the tour group to disembark.

Robert Tait looked around the enclosed space. "Have we gone anywhere? Where are we?"

Lauren laughed. "We're just under an hour's travel from the embassy. Follow me; hopefully, most of your questions will be answered."

She led them through a secure door and into a hallway. The corridor was lined with windows, offering a view of a semi-tropical landscape adorned with quonset hut-style buildings. These structures were interconnected by covered walkways, mirroring the one they were currently in. In the distance, an orchard and what appeared to be a vegetable field, separated by a row of smaller buildings, came into view. The group exchanged whispers, their faces reflecting their appreciation for the new environment.

The corridor ended with another secure door, which Lauren opened. It led into a large auditorium quite noisy, with the chatter of a couple of hundred people. Lauren pointed to an area of seating that had been set aside for the group. "The seats all have translation earbuds if you need them. To operate them, simply stick them in one or both of your ears - the buds will translate based on your language." She got some odd looks from most of the group, as they were all familiar with translation technology and hadn't ever encountered anything like Lauren described. To their credit, they didn't ask. Yet.

Once the tour group was set, Lauren looked across at the animated mob chatting in the remainder of the auditorium. "Welcome to you all." The crowd slowly quietened, and most took to their seats, but a few stood as though ready to run. Lauren gave a sad smile. "It's safe. You have nothing to fear here." She waited for them to settle down and shrugged. "I know it's been hard for you, and the journey here has been strange." She smiled and spread her hands apart. "But, at least you've all had a good sleep and a full belly for a change!" There was a definite response to that. Some laughs and many smiles. Lauren continued. "This orientation session will not take us long, so feel free to stand up if you want to."

She walked to a podium that held her checklist. "First of all, again, I wish you Welcome. Welcome to this land." She ran her eyes over the audience, including the tour group. "There is only one rule on this land, and it is simple." Her eyes glinted with passion and determination. "Love this land. Be loyal to this land. This land is life, and life is the land."

The auditorium was quiet as she roved across them with her gaze. Her eyes finished up on the tour group. "This land is not like where you have come from." She looked to the back of the space. "There is no war on this land." There were scattered shouts of approval, and Lauren smiled. "Hard to believe, I know." Her eyes opened wide. "But it's true!" She looked across to the tour group again. "There is no war on this land, and there never will be." Shouts of approval rippled through the main room. Many stood and clapped or raised their fists in approval.

Lauren waited for the noise to abate. "There is no war on this land." She looked up and inclined her head in thought. "What does that mean?" Her eyes narrowed in question. "There is no war on this land… what does that mean?" Many of the refugee's faces frowned as they considered what she'd said. They had never lived on land that wasn't at war and had never had the chance to think beyond that fact of life. Lauren smiled and nodded. "It means you have time. Time." She pointed and ran her finger left and right to cover them all. "Time to eat. Time to think. Time to learn. Time to love." Lauren highlighted each statement by pointing her index finger. Once she finished, she smiled and nodded knowingly. "Time to LIVE!" The last word shouted out enthusiastically and met with a roar from the refugees.

Lauren noticed a few of the tour group turn to their neighbours and whisper. She ducked and smiled, nodding, before focusing on her primary audience. "I worked with refugee camps in Asia and Africa. Not once could I say I made more than the smallest difference in someone's life apart from a meal, a hug, or a word of encouragement." She frowned. "You all know this. It wasn't for the lack of money. It wasn't for the lack of effort." Her lips compressed, and she gave a little shrug. "There just wasn't any place for you to live." She looked across to the tour group. "That's what you have here. A place to live!" She smiled and turned back to the main group. "Time to Live and a Place to Live!"

Lauren laughed out loud, her joy rippling through the crowd. "My orientations aren't usually this energetic!" She checked the list and waved a hand for calm. "Okay. You were given some information when you were at the embassy. Nothing has changed." She grinned. "Except that you are now here." She waited for the shouts to calm down. "What you need to do next is decide how you want to live." She looked up and chuckled. "That sounds pretty simple, I know, but it is not. Most of you will have lived in tents or some other temporary shelter for a long time. Possibly years." She raised her eyebrows. "Depending on circumstance, you may have lived in more difficult conditions before that." Her eyes softened, and she pointed to a display behind her that showed pictures as she talked. "On this land, we have insulated modern steel homes, hot and cold running water, beds, chairs, tables, rooms, doors… and gardens." She shrugged. "They come in different sizes to accommodate groups or families of different sizes, and they are built in a communal format with a shared dining area and group activity areas." She smiled again as the refugees started to explain to each other what they thought Lauren meant. "You don't have to choose now. We will go and look at a community, and you can talk with the people there and see what they think." She shook her head. "There are no rules about this." She inclined her head a tad. "We had a group a few months ago who were from the same village. The village had been attacked and burned to the ground. A hundred and thirty people survived, and they wanted to stay together and build their own homes again, in their own place." She smiled as she remembered their effort. "It took them three weeks to cut the timber, clear an area and build their huts." She chuckled. "After living there for two weeks, the villagers started questioning why they were doing this. They didn't have time for anything except hunting, foraging and repairing things." She frowned. "After another week, they decided to try the new houses." She smiled and raised an eyebrow. "They are very happy now!"

Lauren rechecked her list. "Once you've all got a place to live, you can cook your food or eat in the communal dining rooms. I must tell you, though, that the meals are great and eating with friends is fun." She held up the list. "Last point. You'll wonder what to do with your time in the next few days. I suggest you hook into the language courses and start on English. As you can see through the translation earbuds, you don't need to learn it, but it would help in some areas such as technology and the sciences." She smiled. "Apart from that, there are plenty of tracks for learning available that will lead to knowledge and skills." She raised her eyebrows. "A lot is happening within the pathways project, and people are needed in every capacity. We have an AI, a computer, and we call it ConMan. ConMan will hook up whatever you want to do with someone else who needs help." She looked at the roof. "Say hello, ConMan."

A voice chuckled from the speakers in the room and through the earbuds. "Hello."

Lauren sighed. "ConMan!"

"Just kidding! Hello there. My identifier is ConMan, and I am an artificial intelligence designed to manage connections between things and, generally, get things done around here." It paused a moment to give the listeners time to think. "If you need anything, just ask out loud, and I'll schedule an action for you."

Lauren chuckled. "Thanks, ConMan. Bye."

"Bye."

Lauren looked around the whole audience, including the tour group. They were all looking a bit dazed. "Let's get out of here and go look at things. I need you to break up into groups of ten or so. More than that makes it difficult to get inside a house and look around." A door opened on one side of the auditorium and gave a view of a path leading away from the building into a spacious area with houses, gardens and trees. A group of people waited outside the door." As your groups are ready, head out the door there, and a guide will take you off on a tour." She looked at the UN group. "I'll take you once the rest of the groups are organised."

Over an hour, Lauren took her group through a standard community and answered their questions. As they returned to the transport hanger, George Baillie stood beside her and shook his head. "It's amazing. Truly amazing."

Lauren looked at him, cocked her head in question and smiled. "Which bit?"

He chuckled. "All of it, if I'm honest." He frowned. "I guess there are two main things that stand out for me. The first is how readily people will learn when they have the time and opportunity." He shook his head in wonder. "Some of those people have never heard of a computer, much less learn about Python programming!"

Lauren stopped and turned to face him. The rest of the group gathered to listen as well. "That stunned me as well. It showed me how resilient and adaptable humans are and how much scope and depth we have available when the opportunity arises."

Robert Tait nodded in agreement. "When a person applies themselves, then they can get ahead."

Lauren shook her head. "No, that's not what I meant."

He looked at her as though she hadn't heard him correctly. "People work hard and get opportunities. That's all I meant."

Lauren smiled. "I know what you meant. The West sees a world of opportunity up for the taking. All it needs is to go out and grab that opportunity and, if it's not there, work your way up the ladder until it is."

He smirked. "You say that as though work is the enemy." He looked around the group. "You can't just give stuff away!"

Lauren noticed that most of the group agreed to some extent. "Why not? Why not just give stuff away?"

The American looked at Lauren like she was a bit crazy. He laughed. "If you just give stuff away, eventually, there won't be any stuff left! That's why!"

Lauren smiled. "Look around. Why are the gardeners gardening? Why were the teachers you saw teaching? When we had our break, who baked the bread? Who made the sandwiches? And, who served us?"

Robert looked around, puzzled. "I don't know. Staff? People are employed to do the work. Whatever."

Lauren's eyes crinkled in mirth, but she held the laugh inside. "All those people, except a few lecturers, have taken the resettlement pathway. They are refugees." Her head inclined. "And, they are all doing what they want to do through choice. They are not paid. We have no money here. None of us are paid. We simply do what we do because we want to."

George Baillie looked stunned. "No money? How do you get anything done?"

Lauren smiled. "We're so used to using money to get people to do things we want them to do. Make handbags, serve coffee, cook steaks, build houses… teach Python programming!" She looked around her group. "All of you do what you do for money. Some of you will enjoy the work more than others, but you do it for the money. Then, you use your money to buy stuff or, as our American friend says, grab an opportunity. That opportunity may be more education or a trip on a rocket or a new propeller for your yacht." She paused and shrugged. "In a way, I am like you." She smiled. "I represent the refugee resettlement pathway much like you represent your nations in the UN. It was my idea that Australia should partner with the UN to create this program. From sponsorship through meetings to the design of the Embassies to what you see here today." She smiled openly. "It's my baby. I love what I do and the results I've contributed to bringing about."

Tait looked at her oddly. "So? What's your point?"

"The point is that I do this because I want to! Not because I have to." She shrugged. "I have food and a nice home in a community, and I can spend my time doing what I want. All without money." She waved a hand around her, taking in everything they could see. "All this, and other sites like this, are the same. People do what they want to do because they can." She sighed. "All we do is allow them to do so."

"But, how will you get ahead?"

"What do you mean, ahead?"

"I mean, a nicer car or a bigger house in a better neighbourhood?"

Lauren laughed openly. "I already have everything I want. I don't need more or better." She shook her head and started back towards the transport hub again. "Perhaps it's simply a new way of getting things done. We do things because we want to rather than because we must."

George asked his second question. "How do you pay for it? The housing, power, food?"

Lauren opened the door and answered before ushering the group in for their bus back to the embassy. "We grow our food. We build our own houses using technology we have developed, and we use renewables for power." She held up a finger to make a point. However, I believe renewables are being replaced with simpler, more flexible power generation and distribution technology."

She forestalled more questions as she got the tour group back onto the same bus they had arrived on. "I hope you've enjoyed your time here at a resettlement site. We have a few locations with varying characteristics and will increase that capacity as more people join us."

She turned to the driver's compartment. "Any time you're ready, Quinn." Turning back to the group, she smiled and waved goodbye as she exited the bus and sealed the hatch.

Chapter 28

Robert Tait, Permanent Representative for the USA, looked across the chamber at Tess Barker, his counterpart from Australia. Tait had just completed a short presentation outlining various unknowns concerning the Refugee Resettlement Program. "As a result, I ask the Ambassador from Australia to clarify." He held up a finger. "First, where are the refugees physically being resettled? And, secondly, just how the refugees are being transported?"

Tess Barker smiled at the Ambassador for the USA and looked to the Secretary-General. "Ambassador Tait has taken a tour that explored both of these questions. He has experienced, first-hand, an Embassy, a journey to a resettlement community and a tour of the accommodations and activities utilised by the refugees once resettled." She cocked her head and looked at Tait. "I fail to understand what more the Ambassador wants to know."

Tait scowled and directed his attention to the Secretary-General. "The fact remains that, despite protestations, we have not determined where the resettlement community is located. Mobile communications were unavailable while we were on the tour."

Tess sat back in her chair. "Standard security protocol as defined in the Special Procedure. A communication block is activated both on the buses and at the resettlement area." She shrugged her shoulders. "There was nothing new in this; the block is to keep the refugees safe and secure."

Tait was visibly agitated. "I know this! I am simply asking where the sites are. I am the Permanent Representative for the United States of America. I have a right to know."

Tess looked across to the Secretary-General for support before giving her attention, once again, to the Ambassador from the States. "Ambassador Tait, I am not at liberty to divulge that information to anyone not involved in the program. Even those involved do not have that information unless they need it for their work." She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I am simply at a loss for your continued questioning concerning these matters. The program is running efficiently and achieving results well above those forecasted."

Tait sneered. "Ambassador Barker, with all due respect." He looked around the assembled members. "Just how do we know that the results are as you say? The refugees could be offloaded into the middle of your vast desert and left to die."

Tess slumped and shook her head. She lifted her gaze to Tait, eyes flat. "And tell me, Ambassador, what would be the point of that? What would we gain?"

"Where are they, then? Why won't you tell us?"

The meeting's moderator interrupted and asked for order.

Tess looked at the moderator, inclined her head and looked back at Tait. "The locations of the refugees are confidential, as are the modes of transportation. This condition of the Special Procedure is essential to the refugee's security and safety." She ran her eyes over the other delegates before returning to her antagonist. "Ambassador Tait, you have seen a resettlement and experienced how the refugees get there." Her gaze sharpened, and her lip curled slightly. "Perhaps there is something else on your mind?"

Tait frowned and glowered at the Australian before shaking his head and sitting back with his arms crossed across his chest.

***

Ken Hayden's group of 'talented' operatives had grown to twenty. All were hand-picked by Ken himself from the thousands of people attending the defence and fitness groups that were part of daily life in the communities on Karma and the other populated worlds.

The fact that the number was only twenty was a testament to Ken's criteria for selecting his team members. They were currently located on a world that was less than friendly to humans. It was hot, had no vegetation, and its higher gravity added almost twenty per cent to their weight.

Ken looked over the sweating faces lined up in front of him. "You all know how to remain concealed, move stealthily and neutralise your enemy." His eyes narrowed as he pointed to the flag five kilometres distant. "You'll leave here at one-minute intervals. Make your way across the flat and into the rocks at best speed." He looked up and smiled. "It's only thirty metres. Even with the heat and gravity, you should get there with enough time to make your way into the rocks unseen." He lowered his eyebrows. "The insertion timing is twenty-five minutes. MilSec will be monitoring vitals. Do not, I repeat, do not interfere with anyone during the insertion. If you do, you'll be docked a penalty." He grinned, "If you're smart, you'll be focused on keeping your head and arse down as you move away from the insertion point." His eyes raked his team. "If you stumble on a team member before the action starts, notify MilSec and take a breath. You'll be Stepped back to the start point and placed at the end of the line."

He tilted his head and smiled. "Questions?"

An hour later, Lydia Muir stopped breathing when she smelled dust. There was hardly any breeze amongst the boulders, so the disturbance had to be close by. Very close. She considered her options. On her side and between two rock formations didn't leave her an extensive range of choices. She could twist her head to look up at the face of the rock her belly was against, but she would risk the movement being spotted, or she could be heard. She could get the AI to have a sensor drone probe her position and relay the feed to her HUD, but that would cost her a precious probe, and although it would be less risky, it would have the potential to be seen or heard if she was unlucky. Her third option was to wait and remain unmoving until the other Ranger made a mistake. She went with the third option. Ken had been adamant that stillness and success went hand in hand, while impatience inevitably led to failure. All she needed to do was breathe slowly and keep her senses sharp.

A puff of dust and the touch of a grain or two of sand on her nose came a half hour later. She smiled; her nemesis was on the move, and while they moved, she could risk a glance above. She twisted her neck slowly, feeling the tendons tighten. Her eyes were closed to protect them from fresh dust and keep her focus on sound and smell. When she determined she had turned far enough, she opened the higher eye and closed it again to allow her brain to sort through what it had seen. The rocky surface was rough and lined with fissures. Higher up were shards of rubble, presumably from an old rock fall. The shards she could see were quite large, but there were some smaller pieces and, probably, some crushed remnants. It was precisely because she couldn't see the top of the rocks that she had elected to snake through the field rather than take the easier route. Her eyes narrowed. Her choice was vindicated.

The Ranger above her may not have had her suppleness, but he or she was still a danger. She took another slightly longer look and grinned. Not twenty centimetres from her ear, there was a foot in a stalker boot designed by Swarm. Taking out a Ranger during an exercise like this had a lot of kudos attached. All she had to do was ask Swarm to tag the boot and let the owner know they were tagged. Getting tagged meant staying where you were until the end of the exercise and being lambasted by the tagger. Lydia smiled, thinking, "Where's the fun in that?"

She gently released the twist in her neck and closed her eyes again, waiting for the Ranger to move on. When the noise came, she matched her movement to the noise and backtracked along the path she had taken. She took that route because it was both clear and precise in her mind. Coming to the fork she had taken to the right, she looked up to the left. This route was similar to the first, if slightly narrower, and would see her move clear of the danger area.

Lydia took another two and a half hours to reach the flag and register her palm print on the pole. The rules required that she continue in stealth mode to a line twenty metres distant. The area from the flag to the finish line was undulating and mostly bare except for random rubble of varying sizes. This part of the course was not susceptible to penalties but was designed to be impossible to traverse without being seen.

Lydia scanned for sensors and, not seeing any, closed her eyes and proceeded by touch, smell and sound. Even taste could help on occasion. Her stealth suit morphed into what she called limpet. The shape removed the apparent bulk of her body by stretching out to the sides and front, its edges almost transparent, and raised one micron above the ground. As she snaked across the terrain, her suit sent signals of encounters with cover, which, in conjunction with the movement of air, allowed her to choose the deepest undulations in the terrain and the best screening from prying eyes.

When she reached the end of the course, her comms pinged softly in her ear, and she opened her eyes as she reset her suit. She stood and stretched to liven up her legs before moving to the debrief hut.

Ken grinned as she came through the door. "Good job, Lydia!"

She blinked and gave a slight nod as she turned to the other occupant of the hut and tilted her head. "Carlos."

Carlos laughed and shook his head. "Only just by a whisker, Lydia. And only line honours so far! We haven't tallied penalties."

***

Codie and Stan Moreton sat on a bench overlooking the ocean after a morning run. The sun had been up for under an hour, and the long shadows of the rock formations to the east cast a ladder-like pattern of shadows along the beach.

Stan broke their companionable silence. "Any news on that communications breach?"

Codie's mouth and nose curled in distaste. He shook his head, "Nothing." He sighed. "The vulnerability has been fixed, but there's no way to identify the person responsible." He shook his head. "Given the number of people who have come over, we're sure to have a few who will act against us. Still, it irks to know there is someone active."

Stan frowned and shrugged. "We'll just have to keep on our toes then." He looked up at the ocean. "Is there any chance the AIs can pick out the bad apples?"

Codie chuckled. "It's on their lists. The issue is that there are so many people from so many places and such varied backgrounds that the number of profiles of physical responses can't be analysed accurately." He sighed, "MilSec says that the data will settle over time as people adjust to their new world - but that's some time off yet. Especially as the current influx continues."

Stan looked at Codie and shrugged. "There's not much point in worrying about it then. Let's just be ready if they try anything!"

The pair stepped into the waiting PTV and returned to work.

Chapter 29

Troy's mind, a battlefield of memories, led him to the communal dining room. Usually a solitary diner, he hoped the presence of others might quell the storm within. His thoughts, like ghosts, returned to his time in Afghanistan, fixating on a haunting episode where he was forced to commit acts that defied sanity. The sudden crack of a rifle shattered his reverie, and he instinctively turned, ready to defend himself.

The child who had fallen off a scooter fell again in shock, and it took Troy a moment to get his brain and actions back into gear. But it was too late. Matt Wallace was already just a pace away after arriving in a PTV.

"Troy. Sorry mate, you'll have to visit the doctor on Pip this time."

Troy bowed his head, afraid and cowed by his inability to control his emotions. "It's okay, Matt. I've had enough of myself as well. I hope they can do better than the one I saw on Earth."

Troy had arrived at the tail end of the NewHope program. He'd been homeless and hopeless, unable to settle into anything resembling an everyday life. Before he'd enlisted in the war against terror, he'd been a bright and intelligent young man whose thoughtful poetry had started to be noticed. The war had seen the end of that. Troy had stopped writing, avoided his friends, and, over time, slipped further into the quicksand of depression.

Since enrolling in NewHope, Troy has been a recluse, slowly attempting to rebuild his life. However, his hypersensitivity to loud noises had drawn the attention of MilSec, leading to his current predicament.

They Stepped to the treatment facility on Pip, and Matt handed Troy over to Rhys Munro, the duty nurse. "He's a good guy, Rhys. He just needs some help to get him back on the level."

Rhys, the duty nurse, met Troy's gaze with understanding. "Hi, Troy. We have a team of excellent doctors here. I'm confident we'll have you back on your feet in no time." He acknowledged Matt, "Thank you, Matt. I'll take it from here."

Matt caught Troy's eye and shook his hand. "See you soon, Troy. These folk will see you right."

Troy frowned and sighed. "I sure hope so, Matt. Make sure the kid knows I didn't mean any harm."

Matt smiled as he walked back to the PTV. "I will, Troy. Good luck!"

When Matt had gone, Rhys led Troy to a large room with comfortable chairs, a sideboard holding water, and the makings for coffee and tea. Rhys put a hand on Troy's shoulder and caught his eye. "Make yourself comfortable, and I'll go find the doctor." He looked at a list on his phone. "Doctor Oakley's on call today." He smiled. She's the best we have, I reckon!"

With that, Rhys left Troy to his own devices. Troy poured himself a glass of water and sat beside a table that had held a stack of old magazines. He picked up one at random, NRMA's Open Road. He chuckled as he flicked through the magazine as he hadn't seen one of these for years. One of the articles had pictures of a lonely stretch of beach with good surf breaks at the near end. The picture looked to have been taken from a headland. His eyes lost focus as he read, and his mind drifted back to days before the war when he lived not far from a beach. He jumped into the surf and paddled strongly to get beyond the break. Then positioned himself for a right-hander. He could remember the blood pumping, the breath bringing in the oxygen needed to keep up the effort and the final push onto the wave…

"Troy?"

He jerked upright in his chair and opened his eyes to a smiling woman around thirty-five years old. She was casually dressed and had dark brown hair pulled back and secured to the back of her head. But what Troy noticed the most was her smile and pale blue eyes.

The woman straightened and moved back a pace. "I'm Dr. Oakley. Can I have a minute to chat?"

Troy stood and held out his hand. "Of course, Doctor. Thanks for seeing me."

Gwen grinned. "Call me Gwen." Her grin grew wider. "I like to see people. I also like getting people off this island!" She pointed to a door across the room, "There's a consult room where we can ensure privacy." She looked around the sparsely populated waiting room, "Or we can talk here if you like."

Troy looked around and smiled. "Here's as good a place as any, Doctor." He frowned and tapped his head, "I just want to settle down from all this stuff going on in here."

"Call me Gwen. I've never been big on titles and formality." She sat and picked up the magazine that had fallen from Troy's lap. "Open Road? We don't have too many of them in the StepWorlds!"

Troy chuckled, "That's for sure. I was more interested in the places they went than how they got there."

Gwen looked at the page on which the magazine was opened. "The beach?"

Troy's face fell into a frown. "I like the peace you can find at the beach. The sound of the waves. The expanse of the water." He tailed off, his eyes unfocused.

Gwen smiled gently and quietly asked, "Where do you go when you think of the beach?"

Troy sighed. "It takes me back in a circle. Back to the sand, the dirt, the wind and the war." His brow furrowed as he turned his eyes on Gwen. "If you've never been in a war zone, you'll not understand. It's a horrible place where people do horrible things - yourself included." He shook his head and gave Gwen a shaky smile. "I don't want to remember, but memories keep pulling me back."

Gwen nodded and folded her lips tight before changing tack. "What about the noise? Matt explained what happened with the kid and his scooter. What did you feel?"

Troy's eyes filled at the memory. "Is the kid okay? I didn't mean anything, it's just." He winced and rubbed his chin and mouth. "The noise startles me. It's almost like my body bypasses my brain and reacts in self-preservation." His mouth drooped at the sides. "If I'm back there, in my mind, it's worse." He shook his head, and his chin crumpled. "I don't know what might happen at times like that." He looked at Gwen, almost pleading. "What can I do?"

Gwen gave a sad smile as she looked Troy in the eye. "It's not an easy road, but, by the same token, it's not necessarily a difficult one either." She raised her brows. "PTSD is a big issue for veterans like you. A huge issue." She frowned, "And it's one that's not addressed very well." She gave Troy a small smile. "The first thing is that you acknowledge you have a problem and want to do something about it."

Troy nodded, his brow furrowed and eyes searching.

Gwen went on, "Wanting to do something about it is the only path to healing." She made sure he was fully engaged. "I want to help you get there. Is that okay?"

Troy felt his eyes filling again. He'd been a loner since he'd been discharged from the army, not trusting anyone too much and keeping a distance. He'd expose himself more than he could bear if he said yes now. He looked at Gwen's eyes. He saw only compassion and a quiet confidence. His doubts crumbled, and he committed himself first with a short, sharp nod. He looked at Gwen and nodded more deliberately, brow wrinkled and a shaky smile in place. "Yes, I want you to help me, Dr. Oakley."

Gwen's eyes crinkled in happiness as she smiled and held out her hand. "Agreed!"

Troy couldn't help but smile a happy smile of his own at Gwen's reaction. He took her hand, and they exchanged a firm shake. Troy's smile morphed into something more questioning, "What do I do? Where do I go?"

Gwen laughed and held the magazine article out. "How do you feel about the beach?"

"The beach?"

"Yeah, you know, the peace? The water?"

Troy smiled. "What about the beach?"

Gwen leaned forward. "This is the StepWorlds; you can live where you want." She smiled. "I want you to live in a space where we can talk frankly."

Troy's face softened, and he smiled. "A house by the beach. How?"

Gwen laughed, and her eyes twinkled, "All you need to do is choose one, and ConMan will have a house placed where you want it." Her head tilted to the side. "Close your eyes for a moment and picture the sort of beach you'd like."

Troy's thoughts travelled across reality and imagination as Gwen talked. "Describe what you see. The sand and waves and water. The land away from the beach? Is it a forest, scrub, hills and mountains?"

Gwen's words focused Troy on various elements as he spoke. "The headland is strong. Fallen rocks lie at its base, and a rocky apron projects into the sea. The headland falls in a gentle slope of grasses and scrub and merges into lightly forested land. In the distance are hills."

He smiled as his mind turned to the water. "The sea, itself, is dark blue. The water must be deep off the shelf, and the fishing will be good. The water looks clear and beautiful. From the blue of the deep water, it becomes turquoise. There must be a reef or sandbank out further. The waves build nicely off the point, are steep and clean, and peel nicely as they roll along the shelf. The reef and sandbanks will produce a range of waves for surfing and an excellent habitat for fish and other sea life. The beach is white. Fine white sand that sings when you walk on it. It's not a large beach, perhaps three hundred metres to the next headland. The tide is low, exposing a fifteen-metre wide strip of flat hard sand gently rising to the edge of the…"

Troy was interrupted by a quiet, low tone as though a large gong was lightly tapped. He opened his eyes and saw that Gwen was smiling and looked relaxed. She shrugged. "That was a beautiful description, Troy. I could almost see fish swimming in the waves."

Troy sighed. "It's where I have my best memories. Where I feel the most at home."

Gwen nodded, "Well, it looks like ConMan and Quinn have found some beaches that may be what you're after." She smiled. "Shall we go look?"

Troy looked up, eyes wide. "Now?"

Gwen shrugged as she led the way to a PTV. "Why not?"

The second beach they visited was on an island. The island wasn't large, and the water on the opposite side could be seen over the low hills that formed its spine. The PTV had landed on a flat portion of the sloping back of the headland, and from where they stood, they could see the beach before them.

Troy looked around. "It's beautiful." He could feel his senses seeping into the grass and air, the rocks and water, the trees and hills. He looked at Gwen, who was watching him intently, and nodded. "This is the place." He smiled, "Can we go walk on the beach?"

The tide was high, and they made squeaking sounds as their feet walked on the warm, dry, white sand. Driftwood marked the high tide line, and tall grasses grew in the higher sand beyond. They walked to the far headland and turned to look back at the four hundred metres to their starting point. Troy shook his head. "There's nobody here!"

Gwen smiled and looked around them. "We are the first people to ever see or walk on this place."

"Where are we?"

Gwen grinned, "The planet's name is Shibui."

"ShiBui. It's a good name."

Gwen nodded. "It's Japanese and means something like 'subtle beauty'. The world has many islands and beaches, mountains, snow fields, and most of the landscapes in between. Mai Linh and Chika Sisaki are setting it up as a planet for rest and recuperation."

Troy chuckled and shook his head. "A planet for R&R? I could have done with that a few years back!" He looked thoughtful. "Where are they setting up?"

Gwen waved a hand, "Mostly on the other side of the planet." She grinned. "Don't worry, you'll be safe here. No hoards of tourists will be coming here!"

Troy's brow creased. "Not selfish, am I?"

Gwen shook her head slightly and smiled. "Not at all. You'll choose your time, and the rest of the StepWorlds will respect that." She chuckled as she watched Troy realise what free will could mean. "Where do you want the house?"

Troy laughed. "I was thinking about the headland itself, but I think it will be better in the forest behind the beach." He frowned, "So long as it doesn't adversely impact the local wildlife."

They walked back the way they had come and moved up the beach when they were close to the headland. There were no trails in the scrub, so they had to pick their way for thirty metres until they looked at a reasonably clear, flat area. Troy looked towards the beach and saw the water and waves through the thin growth. The headland loomed in the mid-distance to his left. He smiled and nodded. "This will be just right."

Before Gwen could answer, there was a rustling from the clearing. Small trees appeared to fall before they simply vanished. The ground in the area started to bubble and sink until a rectangular area had been excavated. One second, the excavated area was empty; the next, it was full. Before Troy could ask, a standard two-bedroom home sat on the plot like it had been there for years.

Troy looked at Gwen, a question in his eyes. "What?"

Gwen chuckled and shook her head. "First build I've watched." She looked at the house again before continuing. "The AI removes excess vegetation to be composted or prepared for use in the building. The ground is removed by a," she shrugged as she mentally looked for a word to describe the process, "a 'flock' of miniaturised mining scoops and replaced with a ready-made packed earth floor." She shrugged, "A bit like a drop-in cricket pitch?" She raised her eyebrows, "When that's done, the house is Stepped in from near orbit." She grinned. "Simple!"

Gwen's expression turned serious. "I'll be back in a week for our next session. In the meantime, settle in and relax. If memories come, don't push them away. If you need anything, MilSec, ConMan and Quinn will all hear you." She smiled. "I don't think Shibby has been set up yet?" She gave a lop-sided smile. "Shibby?"

"Yes, Gwen?"

"Ah. Nothing right now, thanks, Shibby."

"You're welcome."

Gwen raised her eyebrows and looked at Troy. "And Shibby." She smiled, "Shibby is the local AI expert in all things ShiBui. If you want company, food or anything else, just ask Shibby."

Troy managed an amazed grunt before shaking his head. "I don't know what you've done, Gwen, but I feel different. My present is no longer a reflection of the past, and the future looks promising rather than bleak." His eyes shone. "Thank you!"

Gwen smiled and lifted her chin. "So far, so good, Troy." She blinked slowly. "Let's not push it. Take it easy, and let your humanity be your guide." She approached the PTV, which had been relocated from the headland, and waved. "Bye, Troy. See you in a week."

Troy waved and was alone with the sound of the breeze in the treetops and the surf on the beach.

Chapter 30

Avani Campbell, Prime Minister of Australia, took the podium at the United Nations General Assembly. She looked across the faces before her. Some wondered what she had to say that was so important. Some were hostile. Others were more open and welcoming.

She cleared her throat. "Before I begin, my thanks go to all of you for attending what is surely an interruption to your work." She paused and inclined her head. "We do, however, have a bond that brings us together." She looked up into the crowd. "We strive for peace and the well-being of all peoples living on this planet." She gave a tired smile. "We've not done well at that, have we?"

There were a few shakes of heads in resignation and some chuckles of agreement. But, in the main, the hall was silent.

Avani took a deep breath and looked across the group again, eyes open wide. "There are reasons for that lack of progress." She gazed across the representatives of China, Israel and Europe before settling on the United States. "But the key reason is the Will to do what needs doing. The Will that is diminished by veto, trade agreements, distrust and greed amongst other things." She took her eyes off Ambassador Tait. "Will that is diminished by coercion and fear; by a sentiment that says 'If you are not with us then you are against us.'" She swallowed, glad the words were out. Her eyes flattened, and she nodded. She roved her gaze across the auditorium again.

Avani Campbell looked down at the empty podium and then at the Secretary-General. And she smiled. "This is our moment! No more shall our Will be diminished by the pursuit of power and resources. It is time for a new approach and era of human civilisation where cooperation and progress take precedence over competition." Her eyes shone with energy. "No more! It is time for human civilisation to have a chance at moving ahead."

She was silent as she watched her words take root. Interpretations worked their way through to understanding. There were whispered conversations as delegates wondered what this meant. As the conversations stilled, expectations rose.

Avani watched and smiled. "You are all aware of the success of the UNHCR Refugee Resettlement program." She ignored the plentiful smiles as well as the frown that came onto Robert Tait's face. "Because of some of the technology we use, we have kept a blanket of security around the operation, ostensibly to protect the refugee's safety and security." She shrugged. "We were also protecting the security of the technology itself." There were some murmurs, but most of the assembly understood the need. Avani grinned. "I can now tell you about this new technology and one of its more recent benefits." She waited for the hall to quieten. "First of all, the technology is an application of physics that transports something from one place to another." She responded to the puzzled looks. "It does away with things like cars, trucks, planes, roads, oil, tyres." She smiled and gave a slight shrug. "It does away with anything we currently use to transport ourselves or things."

Avani smiled and waited as the hall settled again. "I will give you a demonstration shortly. Before I do, I want you to know that the buses we use for resettlement use this technology. They only ever travelled on roads for show - those seen in public were mostly empty." This was received with delight from some, as well as accusations from Robert Tait and the ambassador from the UK, George Baillie, amongst Saudi Arabia and a few others. Avani held up her hands for quiet. "When refugees entered an Embassy, we ensured they were okay with the move and explained what it would mean in their lives. They then entered a transport vehicle - a bus or another type of vehicle." She paused and grinned. "Then they 'Stepped' to their new location." She raised her eyebrows. "The time it takes to make a Step depends on the mass of what's moving and how far away they are moving to. Trips last anything from a few minutes to an hour or more."

Hands started to rise in the room, and Avani waved them off. "I know you have questions, and they will be answered." She shrugged and smiled. "But by someone better qualified than me." She waited for the room to settle again. "What I can tell you is this." She looked to the ceiling. "Quinn, are you ready?" A voice that sounded suspiciously like the refugee bus driver answered in the affirmative. She looked to the Secretary-General. "Mr Secretary-General, would you do me the honour of selecting a representative at random to give up their seat for a brief demonstration?"

All eyes turned to the Secretary-General, who looked at Avani in surprise. He looked at his watch. "Ten twelve, twenty-three." He smiled as his eyes walked up twelve rows and along twenty-three seats. "Would Ambassador Yuniar mind standing for a moment?"

Pertiwi Yuniar was Indonesia's permanent representative. She inclined her head and moved to the space behind her seat. Once there, she looked at Avani and cocked her head in question.

Avani smiled. "Thank you, Ambassador."

She looked at the edges of the room. "Could we have a camera or two give us a view of the Ambassador's chair and play that view on the main screen?"

A few seconds later, a split screen showed three views of the vacant chair.

Avani smiled. "Thank you. Are you all ready? Quinn, please count down the demonstration."

The voice came over the speakers. "Affirmative. Demonstration commencing in five… four… three… two… one… Demonstration complete."

The cameras captured the appearance of a small spanner in the centre of the chair, painted bright green. Avani smiled. "Secretary-General, Ambassadors, Ladies and Gentlemen. That spanner is why I am able to give you this information now." She took in the accusatory looks she was getting from the USA and UK, along with suspicion from China and Europe. "The unknown can sometimes be fearful. Be at ease. What I am about to tell you is liberating."

The room was silent. Avani took a deep breath and looked up. "Quinn is an artificial intelligence - nothing special, simply an educated chatbot with access to data and switches. Quinn handles the Stepping of things from one place to another. The spanner you see on the Ambassador's chair was Stepped here from the Resettlement Embassy on Mornington Island, and the trip took less than a millisecond." She looked at the faces looking back at her, most with amazement in their expressions. "I will get Quinn to send a second item shortly. It is important that you see the demonstration as a precursor to the statement I will make afterwards." She looked across to the Australian Ambassador. "Ambassador Barker, will you please give me the spanner." With spanner in hand, Avani called on Quinn again. "Quinn, prepare to execute the spanner demonstration on my mark."

"Ready."

Avani tossed the spanner into the air, spinning it as she let go. "Mark!"

"Spanner demonstration complete."

Avani caught the spanner and held it up. As she did so, a second spanner slid through the socket of the first spanner and clanked when it could slide no further. She smiled. "All of a sudden, a ‘spanner in the works' takes on new meaning." Avani held the joined spanners to Tess. "Show the Secretary-General and pass the spanners around for others to see first hand."

The Secretary-General frowned at the spanners and then looked towards Avani. "Prime Minister Campbell, what do you have in mind?"

"Secretary-General, Australia wishes to announce we will immediately begin demilitarisation. We no longer need weapons or a military beyond the spanner defensive capability we now have." She lifted her head as she raised her voice to be heard. "From henceforth, Australia declares her shores a haven, and we welcome all people who simply want to live a productive, safe and secure life." She looked at the stunned faces and noted the interested arrogance of some of the larger, more militarised countries. Not least of these was Robert Tait's. She smiled. "In addition, we hereby declare null and void all military agreements we have entered into in the past. Compensation will be paid according to contractual terms." She noticed Ambassador Tait was now glued to his phone, no doubt updating his colleagues in Washington.

Avani looked out across the awe-struck attendees. "The last thing I want to say is that our civilisation is entering a new age. There is no turning away from this technology. It does not use fossil fuels. It is safe and clean. It uses minimal energy and has made harvesting energy from the sun possible." Her lips tightened, and her eyes darkened. "Australia is first with this technology simply through luck. Some in our government wanted to use the technology for our own gain. We could make a lot of money off of it." She smiled. "My Government, representing the Australian people, voted to share the technology with the world and use it for a peaceful future."

She looked up into a news camera and grinned. "This announcement will come as news to many Australians. It will explain to some just how NewHope and the UN Resettlement Embassies operated so efficiently. For those who fear change, don't fear this. Despite winding up our expensive military and replacing it with a defensive operation, we are all safe." She looked back at the delegates. "The 'spanner' is our defence." Her eyes narrowed. "Any threat will be met." A small smile started at the corners of her mouth. "Any threat will find a spanner in the works which will cause motors to stop, rockets to fail and firing mechanisms to seize." She leaned forward. "You have seen that Quinn was able to transport a spanner into the socket of another spinning spanner." She raised a finger. "Not only that. I want you to remember the demonstration. There was no noise of metal on metal until I caught the spanner again." She looked at mostly puzzled faces, but one or two got it. "The spanner Quinn inserted perfectly matched the trajectory and rotation of the target." Her eyes narrowed again. "This is not a hit-and-miss technology. It gives us a precision defensive capability that will stop mechanised threats in their tracks and, importantly for us, will not hurt the soldiers operating the machinery."

Avani noticed movement from one of the delegations and saw an arm wave from New Zealand's Ambassador, Ryan Hodge. She smiled as she knew Ryan well. "Yes, Ambassador Hodge?"

Ryan indicated an open phone call on his mobile. "The PM wants to know if New Zealand can join you in a defensive…" He shrugged. "Treaty?"

Avani nodded and smiled as her eyes gleamed. "That is why I am here today. Globally, we spend too many precious resources on war rather than peace and the good of all life on Earth. It is time to right that wrong." She smiled warmly at Ryan. "Of course, Ambassador! Consider New Zealand part of a new unified group known as the Peace Alliance."

Another hand rose as Ryan relayed the news to his PM. Avani looked up to see Ambassador Yuniar from Indonesia waving. "President Slamet has asked if the defence can protect Indonesia and her people."

Avani sighed and took a deep breath. "Tell President Slamet 'Yes'. The system can cover Indonesia." She saw more hands rise and held up her arms to quiet things down. "The technology can cover as many countries as want peace." She shrugged. "Depending on the number of spanners we have in stock." She saw some possible alarm on some of the faces. "That's an Australian joke! We don't actually use spanners - it's a composite material and looks like a small rock." She cocked a shoulder. "We could use river stones if we wanted to." She smiled again. "If you want to explore joining in a global defensive initiative, please get in touch through the normal diplomatic channels, and we'll determine how best to manage it."

Avani looked across to the Secretary-General. "Secretary-General, when we asked that I be given this opportunity to talk with you all, I said it was significant." She smiled apologetically. "I hope it wasn't too much to take in one sitting."

The Secretary-General smiled and gave a slight shake of his head. "Hearing about demilitarisation and a push for peace is always welcome here." He tilted his head. Tell me, are you considering getting involved in any of the current conflicts that beset us in these times?"

Avani shook her head. "No, Sir. Not directly." She shrugged her shoulders and looked across the faces in the auditorium. "For our part, we will defend any who join us."

The ambassador for Timor-Leste raised his arm to ask a question. Avani smiled. "Yes Ambassador?"

The ambassador's face became grave. "Prime Minister Campbell, can you give us some sense of what is involved in your offer to join you?"

Avani frowned before her face eased. "Ambassador, as I said earlier, it is best for you to go through normal diplomatic channels." She saw that he wanted more information if it was forthcoming. She smiled and sighed. "There is no hard and fast requirement. On the physical side, you agree to disarm - stand down your armed forces and destroy or recycle your weapons. Weapons will no longer be needed. The Alliance will incorporate some of your military personnel into its defensive operations and others of your people into whatever activity they want to be involved in." She looked across the room. "On the policy side, you must agree that all life matters. Not just humans but all life on the planet and the planet itself that is home to life."

The ambassador was obviously distressed by the importance of fossil fuels to the Timor-Leste economy. "What would be required regarding my country's development of revenue through the mining of fossil fuels?"

Avani narrowed her eyes and focused on the ambassador. "The mining must stop immediately if you are committed to life and the planet."

The ambassador slumped. "But, we would slide into poverty. Our people would starve."

Avani lifted her head, her eyes glittering. "No member of the Peace Alliance will starve." Her mouth pulled up at the corners in a small smile. "The Step technology gives access to various benefits. Apart from free energy, there is access to land, food and shelter. The Peace Alliance guarantees to help feed, house and educate the people of all members of the Peace Alliance."

The Secretary-General tilted his head, a question in his eyes. "This sounds impossible. How would the group achieve this?"

Avani's lips tightened, and she drew her brows together. "It is possible to support members of the Peace Alliance in the same way we fed, housed and educated our NewHope program and the same way we are feeding, housing and educating the refugees taking part in the UN's Resettlement program." Her face morphed into one of steely determination. "Know this. The ability to care for and nurture people is not the issue. Until recently, we had no defence against military threats from people, organisations or nations that would take the Step technology for their own benefit." She held up the spanners. "This new development means that we can share the benefits of the technology without fear of attack."

She put the spanners down. "As we speak, others are working to discover the technology for themselves. Their motivation is to control it and benefit from it." She looked towards the United States desk. "I tell you now that it is too late."

Ambassador Tait blinked and muttered to himself. "We'll see about that!" He turned to his aides. "Let's get out of here!"

Avani frowned at the departing delegation before turning back to the chair. "If any more of you are interested in peace, please let us know. It will mean peace for your people without the cost of armaments or military forces." She held up a warning finger. "Don't forget, it also means respect for all life. If you can't commit to that, don't ask to join us."

Chapter 31

The woman shook her head. "I just don't trust them!"

The man paused filling in the online form. "What do you mean you don't trust them? What's there to not trust?"

"Free energy!" She looked at her husband as though he were stupid. "Who gave anything for free? There's always strings attached." She looked knowingly at her husband and raised an eyebrow. "What are the strings?"

He looked back at the application page. "There are no strings attached. Simply sign up, and they'll switch you onto the free energy from space."

She sighed. "Haven't you seen the ads on TV?"

"What ads?"

"The scam ads! About the energy." She shook her head. "You know! 'If it's free, it's not for me!'?"

He sighed. "I've seen them. They're from the opposition party."

"They have a lot of backing. WestProtect has endorsed them as well as the Don't Back-Off Group."

"Well. I don't know." He looked at the screen again and sighed. "It looks like a good deal." He shrugged. "What could it hurt to try?"

His wife frowned at his persistence. "They say that there's not enough detail. There's too many gaps about the impact on health, brain fog and unborn babies." Before he could interrupt, she rushed on. "And the scientists are concerned about the amount of sun that's taken away. Will the Earth freeze? Will we get the Vitamin D we need?" She frowned. "There's too many ifs and buts." Her face blanked. "I just don't trust them!"

The man sighed again. He wasn't convinced either way but closed the application form. "All right then. I won't take the chance."

His wife smiled. "We're doing the right thing. Power is expensive, but we can't risk hurting ourselves or the planet." She looked across at her husband. "Look, there is a march tomorrow in the city. It's being led by the opposition leader, demanding answers from the government. I think we should go?"

***

"I don't give a dog's turd what Australia does! This is my country! My job! My home!"

The workers standing at the bar murmured in agreement. They were from a large oil company working in rough country in the north of Alaska.

The boss took a sip of his beer and shrugged. "There's not much we can do about the Australians, but we can do something if they come mouthing around here." He looked at his boys. "There's no such thing as a free lunch, as we all know." He waited for the shouts of agreement to settle down. "Thing is, the government has its head up its ass and can't see out its ears. If they look like they will fall for this free energy thing, then we've got to act!"

The mob started to get aggressive even though there was nobody nearby but themselves. A beer was spilt, a man shoved, and a punch thrown before they quietened down again.

The boss checked his watch and finished his beer. He looked at the barman. "I've got to go. Keep the taps flowing for my boys here." He looked at the happy faces. They appreciated the offer of free booze. "Don't get too het up about this stuff. The company's got your back, and we'll ensure they don't take your jobs or wreck our communities."

He was greeted with cheers and well wishes as he left the bar and jumped in the company limo for the trip to the airfield. A half-hour later, he was landing at another drill camp and another beer.

***

The neighbours met on the curb when they came out to check their mail. "Hi Tommy, how're you doing?"

Tommy grinned. "Jerry. Hi. Much better now that free energy's on the horizon!"

"Free energy, hey? Did you know they removed pages twelve through sixteen of the scientist's report from their website?"

"What report? web site?"

"Shit man, don't you see the news?"

Tommy frowned and shook his head. "Must've missed that one. What happened?"

Jerry's mouth turned down. "It was Spotty Bullfinch on this afternoon's noon news report." He raised his eyes to underline the integrity of the reporter involved. "He's been talking to secret sources in the Australian government, and it seems that some pages from the impact study on the free energy scam are missing."

Tommy shook his head in confusion. "I went to the Free Energy website and didn't see anything about a report except for the one-page summary showing it was all fine."

Jerry nodded sagely. "See. You didn't even get to see the report."

Tommy frowned. "I better check it out." He looked worried. "Scam, you say?"

"Yep! Spotty called it for what it is. Scam of the decade, he reckons."

Tommy shrugged, defeated. "Well, blow me to hell and back! I fell for it hook, line and sinker!" He sighed. I better phone my mom and let her know not to go for it." He shook his head. She's surely going to be disappointed. She was hoping to save a bit to help with her pension."

Jerry smiled and waved as he returned to his front door. "No problem, Tommy, any time. Neighbours have to look out for each other these days."

***

The video "The Unpublished Layers of the So-Called Peace Alliance" went viral on social media. It was almost as if it bloomed in one channel and spread to others like a plague before returning, again, to a different audience demographic.

The content was presented as a concerned citizen interviewing people who knew about the subject matter, which included topics as diverse as the impact of a solar collector on Earth's future generations, the meaning of Free, Spanners in space - what's to worry, where have all the workers gone and, arguably the most provocative, Downunder No Longer—the rise of the Peaceniks.

For those who dared to delve into the experts' credentials, they would soon discover that their expertise was either fabricated or non-existent. However, as is often the case on social media, the pursuit of truth is not a popular endeavour. Those who did were met with ridicule and scorn, both online and in their offline lives.

***

President Zhu glowered at the eight CCP's Politburo Standing Committee members. It was unusual to see the President anything but calm and serene, with an almost boyish demeanour that belied his power. In the current circumstances, he was very close to breaking necks.

He waited until Guo Feng, the Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, finished his closing remarks before almost spitting out, "Enough!" He glared at them, fist and jaw clenched as he caught and lost eye contact. He took a deep breath and allowed the air to escape slowly as he sought calm. He lifted his chin and nodded. "It is enough."

The Committee members started to breathe again in relief. Although they were senior members of the CCP, they were very aware of the power held by the President.

Zhu stood tall, head up. "I have made my decision. We will not join this Australian Peace Group." A few heads drooped in disappointment, but nobody interrupted Zhu. "Your arguments are strong and soundly pluck the chords of harmony in my mind. Peace is a strong token, and living in harmony is well-known to our ancestors and hearts. That we could divert resources to lifting more of our people out of poverty instead of building ships, guns and planes of war!" His eyes lost focus as he imagined a land of peace and tranquillity. His reflection lasted only a few seconds before his lips twisted, and he shook his head. He took a deep breath through his nose and sneered. "It sounds idyllic. Utopia." His nose wrinkled. "Perfect bait for the fisherman seeking the Peach Blossom Spring."

He bowed his head and then stood tall. "We will not demilitarise and trust America's lapdog Australians to protect us and feed us." He leaned forward to be closer to his men. "We will look after our people in our way." He raised an eyebrow and nodded sagely. "As we have done for thousands of years."

***

When asked about joining Australia's Peace Group, the Russian President simply shook his head. "Nyet!"

***

The President of the United States was seething. He scowled at his Director of National Intelligence, Arla Inglis. "How could we not know?" He slammed his fist onto the table. "They're fucking allies, for god's sake!"

Nobody in the secure conference room moved an inch or spoke. The President could be unpredictable in extreme circumstances - and this was a doozy.

The President stepped back from behind his chair; his nostrils flared, eyes little more than slits. "What a shit hole!" He sneered at the trio from WestProtect. "Despite over a year and every support, you've got nothing!"

Ainsley van den Favel looked up and opened his mouth to object, but the President's chin jutted, and his finger stabbed aggressively. "Nothing! You've got nothing! No technology. No names. No places. No, nothing."

Ainsley sat back and gave a slight shrug. There was some truth in what the President said.

The President turned to his Secretary of State and was about to continue his tirade when the emotion suddenly left him. He sighed and shook his head as he returned to his seat. He looked down at the table and thought. He wasn't the President of the United States through an accident; he was there because of his vision and determination. He was there because he believed in himself and in the history that singled out the United States of America for greatness. As he considered Australia's actions, he pushed aside the doubt, failures and disappointments of the last year or more, creating a new space in his mind for clarity.

He looked up at Melody Miles, his Secretary of State. "Melody. UN. Thoughts."

Melody sat up and looked the President in the eye. "The Australian Prime Minister's address was a surprise," she frowned. "If what she says is true, we potentially have a major problem." She looked across at Robert Tait and caught his eye. "She was quite hostile towards us, Robert."

Tait had replaced Joanna Mitchell, America's previous UN Representative, after she met with an untimely accident. He scoffed. "Hostile isn't the word to use. She was aggressive and disrespectful." He frowned. "She blatantly accused us of trying to steal from them." He rubbed his brow tiredly. "Then she went on to cut ties with us and go it alone." He shook his head disdainfully. "Shaking those darned spanners in our faces."

Melody retook control. She looked at the President and the DNI, her brow furrowed with concern. "It's hard to be diplomatic when there's nothing the other side wants from you, and you can't coerce them." She waved at the WestProtect contingent. "We've helped WestProtect as much as we can without being overt and have achieved nothing." She gave a slight shake of her head. "Their security is tighter than… it's extremely tight!" She shrugged. "And, now we know why. They're off populating whole new planets!"

She looked back to the President. "To answer your question, the UN can do nothing for us." She tilted her head, and her eyes narrowed in thought. "Unless we use the Security Council to sanction the Australians and their Peace Alliance somehow."

President Anthony Searle scratched his chin. "That's a good idea." He nodded and gave a small smile, the first for the morning. "Melody, flesh out an approach, and we'll keep it under wraps until needed."

With a worried frown, he turned to Issac Hyland, his Defence Secretary. "What about this spanner thing, Isaac? Any truth in it?"

Isaac was a large man who held his mass well. He was hard to anger and even more challenging to amuse. He scowled. "My teams are looking into it, Sir." He shook his head. "Nothing so far, but if what the WestProtect people tell me is even half right, then we'll be in trouble." He looked around the table. "We're not simply behind the Australians with the defence spanner they talk about. There has also been the development of computing, energy production, transportation, and artificial intelligence." He looked apologetic and shrugged. "And that's what we know! There may well be other important elements that we are not even aware of."

The President's face had gradually reddened as Isaac spoke. When he finished, the President was silent for a moment before turning his glare on Isaac. "And tell me, Isaac," He asked quietly and slowly. "Just," He exploded. Spittle sprayed from his mouth as he shouted. "What the hell are you doing about it, Isaac? We're the goddamned United States of America. We are the number one world leader in all things! What are you doing about it?"

Isaac scratched the back of his neck and frowned. "The Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force and Special Ops are all gathering intelligence as we speak." He looked at Ainsley van den Favel. "We've set up a team to work with WestProtect's development of the Step field they worked out in Colorado."

The President interrupted. "Where's that at Ainsley?"

Ainsley looked from Isaac to the President and raised his eyebrows. "It's progressing. The team is getting a better handle on what the field does and how to control it." He shrugged. "A lot of data needs working through, so we've got Harper Collins to focus on the artificial intelligence processors to work with the data more effectively." He looked down, clearly frustrated. "We're a long way behind the Australians. We need something to slow them down." He looked back up into the President's eyes. "Or, something to speed up our innovation."

The President sat back with a grunt. "Shit! There must be something we can do." He frowned and leaned forward, eyes intense. "Can we hit their economy? Are there any internal vulnerabilities? Any public backlash to all this?"

Isaac shook his head. "They must have resources coming in from outside, so the economy is probably not worthwhile targeting with sanctions or trade barriers." He paused and rubbed his chin. "The politics there had fractured, but this new vision of peace and free energy on top of the NewHope initiative has received broad-based support from the public." He shook his head. "I can't see any upsides for us along those lines."

Robert Tait leaned forward and interrupted. "What about the UN? Can we kick them and the Peace Alliance out?"

The President looked up. "What are you thinking?"

Tait gave a small, tight-lipped smile. "The Security Council can recommend that a country be expelled. It would go to a vote in the General Assembly, but even if the GA didn't go for it, it would be enough to shake the Australians up.

The President looked across at Isaac, eye raised in question.

Isaac tilted his head and nodded slowly. "We'd get the vote in the Security Council." He stroked his chin. "It's worth the effort. It'll surprise them at the very least."

The President looked at Tait. "Do it!"

Tait's chin rose, and his mouth turned up with a small smile. "Yes, Sir."

The President turned his attention to Emanuel Thorpe. Emanuel was a retired Admiral who had been responsible for WestProtect's military capabilities for some years. "You've been quiet, Emanuel." He raised his eyebrows and tilted his head in question. "What's your take?"

Emanuel sat up straight and placed his folded hands on the table. His right index finger tapped the back of his left hand as he considered his response. He pursed his lips before looking the President in the eye. "Sir, since they first discovered this technology, we have not bested them in a military sense." He lifted his hands and put them together palm to palm, elbows on the table. His gaze hardened as he tapped his fingers to his upper lip. "The issue hasn't been military strength; we've had enough to overpower them easily." His hands slid down, and he crossed his arms at the table before him. "The issue is their technology." He looked back at the President and nodded. "We need to find some way to nullify their advantage."

Arla Inglis had been quiet for most of the meeting but looked up at Emanuel's statement. "I may be able to help with that." She looked at the sudden interest in the faces around the table. "We have an asset in the StepWorlds."

Stunned silence greeted her statement. It was Emanuel who got in first. "An asset? In the StepWorlds?"

Arla smiled and grinned. "We got word some time ago. One of our agents has made her way to a planet called Karma and is passively accumulating intelligence." She cocked her head, and her eyes narrowed. "We've kept communication closed since her first contact as it was more than likely logged. She's a smart operator, though, and I expect we'll be able to activate her effectively when needed."

Emanuel almost smiled as he pinched his lower lip. "That's exceedingly good news, Arla." He looked to the President. "I'd like to consider this new information and discuss potential strategies with my team." He glanced at Ainsley and got a nod back. "We also have an asset in the StepWorlds. Perhaps we can get them together."

The President held up a hand. "By all means, Emanuel. But it's our team now. I want you to integrate your command with Special Ops and any other necessary military assets or personnel." He looked at Arla and smiled. "Well done. I want your technology group to get involved as well. Get onto our contractors, especially those in cyberspace. I want maximum effort in this."

Chapter 32

Erin Harper sat back in her seat as she listened to the UK's permanent representative parrot the sentiment of the USA's Robert Tait. The table was fully occupied, and she ran her eye over the non-permanent members to get a fresh view of their probable voting intentions. It didn't look promising.

Her reflection was interrupted as the Security Council's President looked at her. "Would the Australian representative like to add anything further before the vote?"

Erin looked around the member's representatives and frowned, eyes hooded. She turned to the President and nodded. "Yes. Thank you."

This was the final opportunity, the last stand for Erin and Australia, to address and rectify the pressing situation at hand.

"You are here to vote on a proposition that forces Australia to shut down the free energy it has made available to people who want peace." She smiled as she tilted her head. "Peace. Peace, Dignity and Equality on a Healthy Planet." She looked at the Representatives from the States and UK. "Your words. As Representatives to the United Nations. This is your mandate." She took a deep breath and turned to the Chinese Representative. "Peace. Equality. Dignity." She frowned. "Healthy Planet. Choked by emissions. Floods, droughts, famine." She turned her eyes to the non-permanent members. "You are part of this Council. Perhaps you don't have a veto, but.." Erin's voice rose. "..But! You do have a vote. You do have a voice." She chuckled to herself. "The Peace Alliance offers free energy." She shrugged. "At no cost!" She ducked her head and smiled as she looked back up. "Except peace." Her eyes hardened and turned to the permanent Representative from France. "Except Peace!" Her head moved to the Russian representative. "Peace."

Erin sighed. "The arguments made by your colleagues," she waved at the US, UK and China seats. "..are meaningless." Robert Tait scowled and muttered under his breath. "The solar array does not interfere with the sunlight on the Earth. Scientists from all over the world, including America, have confirmed this. There will be no global cooling, ice age, or deformed babies from a lack of vitamin D." She shook her head. "Yes. There would be an impact on fossil fuel usage." She shrugged. "Will that impact economies? Sure!" She eyeballed a few representatives. "Will that fix climate change? Probably not. But it will stop making things worse!"

She shook her head and looked up again. "And, what's wrong with peace? There is no need for armies, navies, bombs, guns, or submarines. No need for fear." She looked at the Chinese representative, eyes narrowed. "No need to create a 'them' to be against our 'us'."

She stood back and sighed. "The Peace Alliance offers free energy with no strings attached. Along with that, the Alliance can defend against aggression." She held out her hand as a pair of joined ring spanners appeared an inch above her palm and fell with a clank. She rolled her shoulders and levelled her gaze at each non-permanent member. "The five permanent members will vote against free power and peace. What are you going to do?"

She turned to the President of the Council and gave a slight bow. "Thank you."

***

Tess Barker walked into the cafe at ten in the morning. She had received a request to meet from a secretary in the Political Affairs, Peace and Security Office of The Permanent Observer Mission of the African Union to the UN. She had been unable to gain any insight into why the meeting was needed, although she did get the sense it was urgent. The cafe was quiet, so Tess picked a table where she could see the entry.

A few minutes later, a woman entered and looked around the tables until she saw Tess. She smiled and gave a small wave as she approached the table. Tess stood and held out her hand as the woman approached. "Good morning. I'm pleased to meet you."

The woman nodded. She was in her mid-forties and had a welcoming smile. "Thank you for agreeing to meet with me, Ms. Barker; I know my call would have sounded odd to you." Tess tilted her head and raised an eye in question. The woman grinned. "Ah, yes. My name is Folade Hamadou, and as you know, I am a secretary for the African Union." She quietened as they sat, and a waiter approached. After they ordered a pot of green tea to share, Folade continued. "Neither our Head of Mission nor his senior representatives could take the chance to see you on short notice about a delicate matter." She smiled again. "So, they asked me to come instead."

Tess looked at Folade and chuckled good-naturedly. "Folade, I am happy to meet you but confused." She cocked her head slightly. "Just what is this 'delicate' matter you need to discuss?"

Folade's face took on a serious look, and she looked around the cafe before leaning closer to Tess. "Africa is difficult. Many of our nation's leaders are tied to, let me say, 'external' influences. Money and fear are high on the list." She swallowed nervously. "I have been asked to let you know that twelve African nations want to join Australia's Peace Alliance."

Tess smiled and waited while their tea was served, and the waitress had gone. "It's not Australia's Peace Alliance." She cocked an eyebrow and shrugged. "It's more that we just became the first member of it and helped set up the idea." She leaned forward. "It is wonderful news that some African nations want to join."

Folade tilted her head and nodded. She smiled as she pulled a piece of paper from her purse and gave it to Tess. "Here is a list of the countries and the contact person for each."

Tess quickly scanned the list. She looked up, puzzled. "Yemen?"

Folade nodded as she poured the tea for each of them. "Yes. I understand they are not African but they share history with Somalia. Many believe both their peoples stem from a forgotten land." She put down the pot and looked at Tess. "Problems of leadership and war beset both countries. Aasha Daud in Somalia and Yasser Nasir in Yemen have worked together in various groups sponsored by the United Nations, charities, and disaster relief organisations in recent years. They both understand the particular issues their people face and communicate with political factions, mercenaries and elders." She frowned. "It will be difficult, but we will manage."

Tess looked over the list and recognised a few of the contacts. "South Africa is not on the list?"

Folade smiled and ducked her head. "They are still discussing the possibility internally. For example, they have a more cohesive structure than DRC and Chad, so they are not as ready to take the risk of angering America or China."

Tess nodded. "I understand. I will send the list to the Alliance, and they will get in touch." She smiled at Folade. "Don't worry; the Peace Alliance can help these people." She raised a brow. Will you be the point of contact for them?"

Folade's lips pressed together, and a glint of fear came to her eyes. "Yes, I have been asked to coordinate the process." She swallowed again. "I am worried that I will make a mistake or be attacked by those who oppose joining you."

Tess reached out and placed her hand on Folade's. She smiled with some confidence. "Do not fear for yourself. We are all learning, and these times are new to us all. I will help if you need it." She reached into her bag and pulled out a small metal container the size of a bottle top. She gave the container to Folade and showed her how to open it. "Put this in your ear. It is a personal communication plug that will allow us to talk." She watched as Folade placed the plug in her ear. "We call it a PCP, and it's operated by one of our AIs, Quinn." She smiled. "Quinn, say hello to Folade."

Folade jerked with surprise as the plug spoke. "Hello, Folade." She looked around and said. "Hello Quinn. Where are you?"

"My local processors are in orbit, not too far from the solar collector, as the crow flies."

Folade looked silently at Tess and mouthed, "Crows?"

Tess chuckled. "Don't mind that; it's Quinn's attempt at a sense of humour. You can tell it to stop if you want."

Folade's eyes opened wide. "No. It's fine." She swallowed. "Er. Thank you, Quinn."

"My pleasure. Call when you need."

Tess shrugged. "If you need to talk with me, just let Quinn know, and it'll either connect us if I'm available or let me know if you want a callback." She caught Folade's eye to make sure she was attentive. "If you're in some sort of situation and need help, ask Quinn, and it'll sort out how to help."

Folade touched the plug in her ear before looking back at Tess. She sighed and swallowed, her eyes round. "Thank you. Thank you, Tess." She shook her head slowly. "I hadn't heard of this before."

Tess smiled and shrugged. "I don't know much about the Step field and what it can do. The ability to transport things and build things in space is an amazing advancement in their own right. Things like the PCP plug are simple applications of the technology."

Folade looked at Tess, a sparkle in her eyes. "Well, thank you again. And thanks to Australia and the Peace Alliance for wanting to share peace and life with those who need it." Her eyes narrowed with commitment. "I will do all that I can to help!"

***

United Nations Security Council adopts United States Resolution 4247.

Adopting Resolution 4247, Security Council Calls for ‘Immediate’ Removal of Solar Harvesting Station by Australia.

In a meeting held earlier today, the Security Council adopted Resolution 4247 with a vote of 10 in favour, 5 against, and no abstentions. This resolution urgently calls for the removal of Australia's Solar Energy Harvesting Station from its high Earth orbit.

Further to the text, the Council called for the immediate removal of any other orbital bodies and the immediate rectification that may be required by the so-called 'Peace Alliance' to facilitate the regular provision of power through previous means.

The United States of America's representative introduced the resolution, saying it focuses on the security and well-being of all humanity. Its passage would restore the international rules-based order and rebalance the security of the global economy.

***

The first meeting of the Peace Alliance was held in a meeting room in the UN's offices in Geneva. Interestingly, Switzerland hadn't decided to join the group, but it likely would. In addition to Australia and New Zealand, the group comprised six Oceania island nations… Fiji, Nauru, Kiribati, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. Four other countries also joined: Mongolia, Vietnam, Uruguay, and Sweden. All were in the process of demilitarisation and had adapted their power grids to the new energy system. Indonesia had pulled back from joining due to their leadership baulking at a loss of political power and the fact that the Peace Alliance supported individual free will. Of note, late interest had been received from a group of African countries. They were being represented by Folade Hamadou from the Africa Union, and she was expected to join the meeting in an hour.

Representing Australia and chairing the meeting was Foreign Affairs Minister Erin Harper. Erin, a figure of great respect in Australia and internationally, acknowledged the importance of each attendee's role in this significant initiative. "Thank you all for attending this first meeting of the Peace Alliance. Your presence here is a testament to the importance of our shared mission." She looked around and smiled. "You all have a PCP that connects you and others outside of our group through an independent communications system. Remember to ask Quinn to switch to a translation if you need to. It's real-time and doesn't impact the network.

"First of all, welcome to this initiative to foster peace on our planet." She frowned, and her eyes twinkled. "As you are aware, some countries are sceptical of our motivation, and some are quite hostile to the idea of free energy and peace." She gave a slight shrug. "Be that as it may, we are a good start. I intend that others will hear of our success and security and join over the weeks and months ahead."

Erin tilted her head and grinned. "I promised to give you a deeper understanding of what we can do for each other, and I will. Before I do, I want you to tell the others in the Alliance why you joined and how your people have responded so far." She looked around the table and smiled. "Who's first?"

There were a few chuckles as all the representatives were experienced in committees and speaking.

Batbayer Ganbat from Mongolia raised a few fingers and smiled broadly. "I heard that Mongolia's joining the Peace Alliance surprised many, so, as an outlier, I'll go first." He sighed and shrugged. "Mongolia is a proud country. We are proud of our history and our even-handed and people-led systems." He paused for a moment. "We are not blind to the world's affairs. The warming climate is already affecting our traditional way of life. This brings fear and poverty and impacts our children's future. Our choices are limited. We join the Peace Alliance to save our people." He looked grim. "It's as simple as that."

Ms Pham Hoang from Vietnam nodded vigorously. "We are the same. Rice crops are already in decline, and salination is becoming an issue. We can see that we will have trouble feeding our people in the near future. Research also shows that a rising sea level will do great harm to the Mekong Delta and threaten cities. We are also experiencing stronger storms." She looked around the table and shook her head. "We are a resilient people. We have withstood wars with China, France and America. But, this is too big for us to fight alone. We cannot afford to put our resources into war when we need them for our people." She lifted her head. "That is why we join the Peace Alliance."

Kiribati's Kekai Timeon chuckled. "Climate is our doom. We need help until we get out of where we are and find another place to live safely. Every day, we check the sea. It was once our friend, but now, it's our doom."

Those from the other islands echoed Kekai's statement. Fiji's representative, Semesa Nainima, added. "There's also increasing political pressure from America and China. I can't help but think they posture for war. A war would be a disaster for all of us."

Uruguay was represented by Ms. Martina Silva, a member of the government and responsible for Social Development. "We are a strange country. We believe in social justice and have a pragmatic approach to life." She shook her head and smiled. "We indeed have a lot of red tape and taxes and procedures, but, in essence, we are a thoughtful, fair people." The smile left her face. "Like others here, we cannot fight the climate. Our main industry is agriculture. Our coast is threatened by storms and floods and our crops by drought." She looked at Tess. "We need help. The United States has turned its back on us, so we're looking to China. We see the Peace Alliance as a solution where we can hold our destiny in our own hands." She smiled. "The Alliance does not tie us into contracts or loans."

Erin nodded and smiled. "Thank you all. We have a common theme: the impact of climate change is already being felt." She lifted her head, engaging each representative with her eyes. "The Peace Alliance will help us all through these difficult times." She leaned forward to emphasise what she was about to say. "We cannot fix the climate, but we can protect ourselves from being manipulated through politics or threats to act in ways we do not want to. We can provide food. We can provide shelter. We can provide education." She paused, and her eyes narrowed. "We can provide defence against military threats." She took a deep breath and gave a slight shake of her head. "We can also provide land and relocate your people to safety if it becomes necessary or if you decide that it's for the good of your people to do so."

Joakim Fager, Sweden's representative, cocked his head and smiled. "Erin. Can I please ask where is this place that you can send people? It's not your Simpson Desert, is it?"

Erin smiled and shook her head. "I can't tell you that right now." She shrugged. "Security." She drew her brows together. "It's important to know that, if you moved, nobody who didn't need to know where you went would know. I can tell you there is more than one place, plenty of space and the people who have already relocated are very happy.

"Joakim, it may not come to that for your people. The Pacific Island nations do not have as much choice." She frowned but lifted her head and met their eyes. "If you or any of your people relocated with the Peace Alliance, they will become a part of a different geography and an unfamiliar system of government. As individuals, the only aspect they will take of their old lives, their old loyalties, will be memories." Her lips tightened into a thin line. "I know, having come to Australia as a refugee, just how difficult that type of change can be." She stood taller, and her eyes brightened. "I also know the rewards of living without war, coercion and fear."

Erin breathed out a quick breath and chuckled. "Enough of that." She looked up again. "I just wanted you to know the option is there, and even though I can't be specific, it may be an important option given the situation we face from the climate. Perhaps, more importantly, the situation with America and other military countries being against the Peace Alliance."

She took a small notepad from her pocket and grinned. "Now to more mundane matters." Erin outlined the processes and communication links for the members to help them demilitarise, select people to join in defence processes and access food and shelter as needed. She also discussed the education systems offered by the Peace Alliance. Nobody was concerned with the syllabus, which included English and other languages, the sciences, mathematics, engineering, and critical thinking. There were also offerings in geography, statistics, computer programming and system design, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and crafts, including working with metals, timber, stone, and other fibres and materials.

The meeting gave all members of the Peace Alliance an excellent understanding from which they could make informed decisions.

Chapter 33

The resolution was expected, but it was still a shock. Five nations had voted with the permanent members, which gave them one more than the nine required votes. In a nutshell, the Security Council expressed Serious Concern that Australia had placed orbital equipment into high Earth orbit without first discussing the ramifications with the United Nations Security Council and other relevant global and space-related organisations. Australia was Condemned for installing orbital bodies that posed a security risk to the rest of the world. Australia was Ordered to remove the orbital bodies within one week of the resolution being announced.

Prime Minister Avani Campbell, a strong advocate for global peace, couldn't help but scoff at the Security Council's decision. "Bloody fools! Are they so trapped by the imperial machine that they can't get the backbone to think for themselves?" She turned to her advisor, Dennis Crossing, for his take on the situation. "What are they saying on Karma, Dennis."

Dennis Crossing chuckled. "Much the same as you, Prime Minister." He shrugged. "The consensus is that we either open up StepWorlds to the Alliance sooner than we had anticipated or we hold as we are and defy the UN." He paused. "In my opinion, the countries who joined the Peace Alliance should have had a gutful of Earth's mismanagement and be ready for the move. I can't see any sane position that supports staying."

Avani looked at Liam Wheeler, Minister for Home Affairs, "Liam?"

Liam, a key player in Australia's political landscape, was visibly tense. "The opposition, of course, is going nuts and calling for a double dissolution, an immediate election, the sacking of the ministry. Whatever they can think up, they're at it." He tried to find solace in the public's response. "From the people's side, the polls are mixed, but we're getting more support. It's a bit like the public respects us taking a stance and siding with peace." He couldn't help but acknowledge the gravity of the situation. "It's a tense time, and a lot is at stake. If the opposition doesn't scare everyone into running to Canberra with burning torches, then I think we have the popular support of the people, and enough of them know the truth of what we're doing because they see the towers and get the power."

Avani rubbed her eyes and gave a slight shake of her head. "I've made a mistake." She pinched her nose and looked at the others in the room. "I need to address both houses of Parliament, and it must be soon." She looked up. "Liam set it up. No more than three days away. Two, if we can get everyone there." She lifted her chin. "It's time to let all Australians know more about the potential scope of the Alliance and what our options are."

She looked across to check with Dennis Crossing and Bruce Whiting. "Dennis? Thoughts?"

Dennis held a finger to his ear as he got word from Karma. "It had to happen sometime, and now's as good a time as any. I've checked with the Council and MilSec. Defence is not an issue, and we're ready for major migrations if required." He paused before continuing. "We have another eight planets ready to take major populations."

Avani nodded. "Bruce?"

Bruce was Avani's deputy and Minister for Defence. "We have fifty-five thousand service personnel impacted by the demilitarisation. Most of those are retraining for their new careers outside of the military but are available on call to help with the transition to peace." He held Avani's eyes, his look intense. "We are ready."

Liam gave a small smile. "Press?"

Avani nodded, eyes narrowed in thought. "Absolutely." She tilted her head. "Better warn law enforcement that there may be a few interesting public displays as the news gets out." She turned to Erin Harper and grinned. "Keep the Alliance representatives in the loop."

Erin smiled. "It may be worth having them attend the Parliament as our guests."

Avani nodded. "Excellent idea. See what you can do."

Avani stood and smiled. "I have a speech to write!"

***

Codie Maxwell smiled grimly as the projected course of the missile was updated. "Damned fools! Why would anyone think blowing up a solar harvester is good?"

The missile's launch had been picked up two days previously from a site in North Korea. It had been tracked to where it was, some fourteen hours away from blowing the solar collector into pieces.

Major Stan Moreton looked at Lieutenant Hugh Sharp, the only other person currently in the newly set up StepWorld Defence Force Command Centre (SDFCC). "How long, Lieutenant?"

Hugh checked his display and whispered to the military AI known as MilSec. "Two minutes, Sir."

"Very Good."

The response had been worked out some weeks previously and had been the first order of business for the newly formed SDFCC. They had determined that the best defence involved secrecy as well as effectiveness. Olivia Gilmour devised the idea of disabling missiles or wayward satellites with a spanner and then Stepping in micro thrusters to adjust the object's course to send it into the sun. The response was automated and was about to be used in a live situation for the first time.

The three men watched as the screens updated with relevant information. They were particularly focused on any colour changing from green to shades of red, as that would indicate an unexpected problem that needed to be addressed.

The timer counted down to zero, and MilSec notified over the speakers. "Spanner inserted successfully."

One of their concerns was the DPRK's response when the missile's propulsion systems failed. They were expected to receive an alarm within seconds of the event and that any response would occur within a half hour. The timer ticked down the seconds as the data was updated in green.

"Stepping thrusters."

The micro thrusters were designed to attach to the outside of an incoming object. Three were set around the front of the object and three around the rear. The idea was to use the object's velocity to take it elsewhere by minor adjustments to its course. In the case of this missile, it was being sent towards the sun, a journey that would last some hundreds of years.

"Adjusting course. Adjustment complete."

With that, the DPRK's missile attack was seen off. Codie looked at Stan and Hugh. "Good job. I wonder what they'll try next?"

Hugh stayed to monitor the defence systems until he was relieved a few hours later when he and Codie set off for Karma HQ to make a full report for the Council.

***

Gwen knocked politely on Troy's front door.

"Around the back!"

Gwen cocked her head and made her way, initially, towards Troy's voice, but as she got closer, it was the sound of physical effort that guided her. She turned the corner of the house and was confronted by Troy, who was working at a bench with a plane. Shavings of pale wood covered the floor and hid his feet. Her mouth opened.

"Won't be a minute. Just have to get this done before the fine stuff!"

She walked closer to see what he was doing and frowned. It looked like an odd-shaped door.

Troy took off a final shaving and rubbed the surface with his open palm. "Ah. That's better!" He turned to Gwen and smiled happily, sweat beading his forehead. "Hi, Gwen. Welcome back!"

She smiled and shook her head. "What's going on? What are you doing?"

Troy chuckled. "Well, it's all because of something you said last week about getting my hands dirty." He shrugged, "I woke up the next morning and, for the first time, noticed the timber that the bed was made of. It's light, and it's strong." He raised his thumb towards the sky. "I asked ConMan about it, and it said the wood didn't have a name yet but was harvested on EN0082ff, the same planet used to make the floor." He gave Gwen a broad grin. "Turns out it's a lot like a wood I knew about on Earth, Paulownia. It's light like balsa wood but is a hardwood and resistant to rot." He laughed as though it was obvious. "I'm making a surfboard!"

"A surfboard?" Gwen looked at the odd-shaped rectangle on the workbench and back at Troy, eyes crinkled in question.

He laughed again. "This is just the early stages." He lifted the piece and pointed out the various elements. "When I finish shaping the board, I'll separate the individual lengths again and cut out chambers to make it even lighter." He shrugged as though it were obvious. "Then I'll glue it back together and finish it off." He noticed Gwen's grin and pointed upwards again. "ConMan's been a big help with the workshop and controlling the various saw cuts I need to make. And Shibby, too; It was the one who dug up the woodworking tools for me." He smiled. "A true team effort!"

Gwen shook her head, eyes moist. "You've done wonderfully, Troy." She tilted her head. "How do you feel?"

Troy nodded, forehead smooth and free of stress. "It's like I'm finding myself again, Gwen. I can't thank you, or the StepWorlds, enough." He gave Gwen a gentle smile. "I may not be fully right yet, but I feel I am on the right path." His smile widened. "I'm thinking of making furniture as well. ConMan tells me there is an endless supply of timber with different properties just 'lying around' in forests on various planets."

Gwen sat on an upturned bucket and started to laugh. Soon, Troy joined her, a strange look on his face as he realised he hadn't laughed in a long time. It felt good.

***

Major Moreton checked the screens. "MilSec, are you sure?"

It may seem odd to ask an AI if it is sure about something, but MilSec had connections to the StepWorld AI group and could have already looked to refine its algorithms. "Object is confirmed as Space Force Space Plane. Probable designation, X-37B."

Stan Moreton frowned and turned to Colonel Leona MacPherson, who headed up Australia's Space Technologies Unit. "I thought they were all back on the ground."

Leona shook her head. "There are so many launches and returns now that it would be simple to obfuscate if secrecy was required."

Stan asked the room in general. "Any suspicion of weaponry?"

MilSec was the first to respond. "Weaponry is not documented but is likely given the situation."

Stan frowned. "Can you give us an appraisal of potential weapons, MilSec?"

"Scanners detect a small nuclear mass but cannot determine if it is used for power generation or as a weapon. No obvious weapon systems have been detected. Probable weapons for this object include lasers and small, fast missiles. It is also possible, but unlikely, that the object is equipped with a Magneto Hydrodynamic Explosive Munition or 'MAHEM'. Given the current tension between China and the USA, it is likely that at least one co-orbital ASAT (Anti-Satellite) weapon would be installed.

"Regarding the potential of these weapons, we can detect any physical object moving towards us and interfere with their course using existing defence systems. The exception to that is lasers. At present, we do not have a defence. SynCon was apprised of the potential vulnerability and has manufactured a reflective shield as a stopgap measure."

Stan cocked his head. "When will the shield be ready to deploy?"

"The shield is currently in Step and will arrive in fifty-two minutes."

The Major looked at Dennis Crossing, Chair of the StepWorlds Representative Council. "If we drop a spanner in the X-37B, the States will cry foul and accuse us of being the first aggressor." He frowned. The possibility of them coming round and supporting the Peace Alliance is already zero, but if we hit them first, then it'll be a sure fact that they won't."

Dennis scowled. "I'm a bloody farmer! How did I get into this mess!" He shook his head. "We have to wait for them to make a move unless we're in immediate danger of losing the installation." He looked back at Stan. "Are we able to divert any of their possible attacks?"

Stan scratched his cheek. "How far out are they MilSec?"

"At their current velocity, they will be close enough to throw rocks at us in under three hours."

"Throw rocks at us?"

"A figure of speech used by ConMan. It referred to possible deployment of kinetic weapons within a range that we may have trouble responding to depending on the number of projectiles."

Stan looked at Dennis and shrugged. Dennis thought a moment, then stretched his shoulders and neck. "I want us to communicate to the X-37B that it is moving into occupied space and that its operators need to change its course within sixty minutes, or we will be forced to take defensive action."

Stan nodded. "MilSec broadcast message to X-37B on all channels. "Unidentified vessel approaching Peace Alliance Solar Collector array in high Earth orbit. You are not authorised to approach this facility, and you are endangering its operation and your craft. Please change course and leave the area within sixty minutes, or we will be forced to disable your vessel."

"Message sent."

“MilSec, repeat the message every ten minutes for fifty minutes."

"Acknowledged."

Stand looked up at Dennis. "Now we wait."

Not long after the fourth message had been ignored, the area between the solar array and the approaching X-37B was divided by the reflective shield. The approaching vessel was somewhat over two hours away, and while the defenders breathed a sigh of relief at the shield's appearance, they remained tense.

MilSec announced the last message had been sent, and there had been no response. On Earth, the United States remained closed to any communication from Australia, the Peace Alliance or the United Nations.

Stan sighed as the time limit approached. "Okay. It looks like we're sending another package into the sun." He looked at Dennis, who nodded in return.

"MilSec, acquire object as target."

"Acquired."

"MilSec, reroute vessel."

"Spanner insert in ten seconds. Spanner insertion is successful.

"Stepping thrusters. Thrusters Stepped.

"Adjusting course. Adjustment complete."

The operation took under two minutes, and the X-37B was on its way to the sun. There was a late surprise, as the vessel deployed ten high-speed missiles shortly after the course adjustment. MilSec automatically redirected them. Not only that, but MilSec made sure that the missiles made a complex weaving manoeuvre as they passed the X-37B on their way to the sun.

The USA's attempt to take out the solar collector was the first overt military act against the Peace Alliance made by a member of the Security Council. Previous actions had involved proxies such as the DPRK, the Philippines, Italy and Israel. Their approaches differed, but all ended with the attacking objects dispatched to the sun. One of the more novel attempts was hacking over a hundred Starlink satellites and redirecting them at the collector en masse. Like the others, that attack was thwarted, but not without some trepidation felt amongst those manning the SDFCC.

The attack from the United States was not unexpected given their increasingly antagonistic stance to Australia, the Peace Alliance and the perceived existential threat that peace and free power posed. That it had occurred meant that the situation on Earth had deteriorated substantially.

Chapter 34

"Colleagues in both Houses, visiting dignitaries from the Peace Alliance and all Australians, wherever you may be." Avani stood tall and smiled warmly. "I have good news for you and anyone who hears and understands." She looked down before lifting her head and turning her attention to Euan Smart, the leader of the Australian Opposition. "The initiative for peace and free energy has met stiff opposition inside this chamber and from the United Nations Security Council." She frowned and shook her head. "Why? Why stand against disarmament, peace and better lives?" She shrugged and gave a small laugh. "I honestly don't know." There were a few catcalls from the opposition benches that Avani waved away with a flick of her wrist.

She sighed. "Given the opposition, I realise I should have done this earlier. For that, I am profoundly sorry." She looked around the chamber and took in the visitor's area. Seeing Dennis Crossing, she pointed at him. "Dennis, please stand for those assembled and the cameras."

Dennis stood and raised a hand in greeting as a zoomed image was displayed on viewing screens. He was an older man with short white hair and tired eyes but a warm, welcoming smile. He looked like a friend - robust, capable and dependable.

Avani looked at Dennis, eyes sparkling. "Dennis is the Chairperson of the Council of the people who made the Peace Alliance possible." She waited for murmurs to abate before turning to the members. "Their 'formation' was achieved using a technology that an Australian discovered. The Australian government helped by providing support through the Department of Defence and, later, through the NewHope program."

Avani held up a hand as questions were asked. She waited. "If you haven't worked it out yet, the NewHope and UN Resettlement programs do not settle people in vacant land on Earth. There is not enough vacant land available." Her eyes darkened as her chin lifted. "Those people have been settled on new worlds. Planets. Planets, like ours, orbiting suns, light years distant."

At this, the chamber erupted, and it took some minutes of patience before it quietened enough for Avani to continue. "First of all, there is nothing to be afraid of. There are no aliens or dragons or bad spirits." Her eyes flashed, and she laughed. "Quite the opposite, in fact. Multiple worlds have life, much like our planet Earth. They have blue skies, oceans and rivers, mountains and grasslands, sunsets and sunrises." She winked. "Some have more than one moon."

The chamber remained quiet at this time, and she turned to Dennis. "Dennis Crossing was one of the first people to move to the planet Karma. Karma is the name of the first planet on which humans from Earth established a settlement." She shrugged. "It was the first planet they found that would sustain human life, and they needed somewhere safe to continue their research." Her eyes narrowed as she turned to the cameras. "They were attacked by mercenaries and idealists who wanted to steal the technology." She frowned. "For their own wealth and power rather than the good of everyone."

She raised her eyes back to Dennis. "The people who discovered and settled these planets call them the StepWorlds. The StepWorlds are not part of Australia. Australia does not own them. Dennis Chairs the StepWorld's Council, which comprises Peoples Representatives selected every year by people in a neighbourhood. There is no lobbying, pay, or politics as we know them." She turned again to the opposition benches. "There are no political parties. No ideologies." She shrugged and smiled. "Just people." She gave a quizzical smile. "I wonder what that would be like? Just people - living without fighting."

She looked around the chamber again. People were quiet as they slowly worked through what she'd said. "As you will surmise, our NewHope program and the current UN Resettlement program are relocating people to these StepWorlds. I know you have questions, but hear me out." She looked again at Dennis. "How many people have migrated to the StepWorlds so far?"

Dennis shrugged. "Coming on to half a million. Increasing quickly as the refugee camps are set up with Embassies."

Avani nodded, and her eyes softened. "And, Dennis, how are these people faring?"

Dennis grinned happily. "They are faring well. When they arrive, they carry the fears of their lives here. To many of them, we are rich people who make their lives miserable." He shrugged. "Once they get some sleep and food and experience the basics of the StepWorld society, they choose how they want to live and who they want to live with. Some try to be self-sufficient. They realise quickly that there are no tricks to the housing and food we provide everyone on the StepWorlds." He gave a small smile. "One of the first things newcomers want to learn when they meet Tutor is what the planet looks like." He chuckled. "Some refugees don't realise that their old town or village is not nearby, and it takes some help from their friends to understand what a planet is."

He shook his head. "I digress. Once new people find their feet, most are happy to eat and sleep peacefully with their families. That lasts a few weeks. Like anyone, when they have time, they quickly get bored and want more interesting things to do. That's where they plug into the education and activity systems. Many mix learning with physical work in the fields or market gardens." He tilted his head. "A lot of activity is available for those who want it." His mouth split into a broad grin. "One of our Councillors is Aalem Khan. Aalem was found in Afghanistan, hiding in a closet. He turned sixteen not long ago and is studying English and the sciences whilst working as a farm hand on one of the new tubsheer developments."

Dennis nodded and turned to Avani. "They get on well, Avani. They get on very well."

Avani looked back around the chamber. "They get on well." She lifted her head, eyes flashing. "And why not? Why not get on well?" She challenged the members with her gaze. "The people of the StepWorlds have safety, shelter and food. What we call basics and what many did not get here on Earth." Her head lifted. "StepWorlders have free will." She frowned and crossed her arms. "Which of us has free will? Which of us is free of the compulsion to have more? More money. More power. More real estate. More status." She shook her head and chuckled. "On the StepWorlds, they do not need money, power, or status. On the StepWorlds, everybody has anything they want and can do anything they want." She held up a finger. "With one proviso. One rule. One simple rule." She looked around the chamber and nodded. "Respect for life." She smiled, mouth closed and nodding. "Respect for life. Simple, isn't it?" She shrugged. "Nobody wants a super yacht. Nobody wants to fight someone else for some… thing." Her face softened. "If somebody wants to live independently on a headland overlooking a great surfing beach, they can!"

Her arms opened to include everyone in the chamber. She then lifted her eyes to the cameras and gave a crooked smile. "I'm not the surfing type, myself. If I had free will, I'd want to learn about astronomy and explore the universe." She looked to the side. "I'm not sure if my husband Zack would want to join me, though!" She grinned. "Just kidding! I know there are a few people who would like to go exploring. I think I'd prefer to learn more about the flora and fauna of these StepWorlds and try to get to know them. Perhaps see if there are any maggies around." She nodded and smiled. "That's what I'd like to do."

She turned to Euan Smart, leader of the opposition. "So, Euan Smart, honourable member and leader of the opposition, what say you? Your team represents Australians, as does my team and the independents. What say you, the voice of Australia? Will we put up our swords and join together in peace? Free of war. Free of jealousies. Free of want." She looked across the chamber and into the cameras again. "Will we join together and embrace the StepWorlds way?" Her voice rose in volume. "A way of peace, life and a sanctuary if this place becomes too onerous?" Her eyes narrowed. "Onerous it may well become as some find it difficult to let go of the power they have accumulated over lifetimes." She turned, again, to Euan Smart and the opposition. "What say you?"

Euan Smart wasn't a fool, but he had high hopes of winning government in the next election. His eyes narrowed, and his mouth turned down. He gave a shake of his head. "As I have asked you before, I ask you again. Where are the details?" He shrugged and cast a lop-sided smile towards his colleagues. "You are asking us to vote on something we know nothing about apart from flim flam presentations like this one." He turned to Avani and sneered. "Show me the proof!"

Avani darted a quick look to Erin Harper, her Foreign Affairs Minister, and her lips turned up slightly. She turned back to Euan, chin lifted and eyes cool. "Very well." She held a hand to her ear and nodded before turning to the area where the press had their cameras. "Can I ask the media to move into the visitor's area, please?" There was a bit of questioning and jostling, but the move was achieved in a few minutes. Avani moved to a point adjacent to the vacant space when they were ready. She checked her position with a small piece of tape stuck to the floor and turned towards the central area. "Euan Smart, members and guests. And, more importantly, people of Australia." She put her right arm up and motioned to the vacant area. "Your detail."

As she finished talking, a bus, similar to those used for the UN Refugee Resettlement Program, appeared in the vacant space. The door to the vehicle was directly before Avani. She stepped back as the door opened inward. James Kentley poked his head out, a broad smile on his face. As people left the bus, they moved away from the door and talked amongst themselves while looking at the Parliamentarians looking at them. Dennis's daughter-in-law, Leona MacPherson was the last to stick their head out. With her, restrained by a rope, was a strange animal. She caught her father-in-law's eye and waved before looking at the astonished members.

Avani smiled and held up her arms. "I give you the details. These people are residents of the StepWorlds." She pointed to James. "James Kentley, discoverer of the Step field. Without James' determination and persistence and, dare I say it, lack of trust, none of this would have happened." She raised an eye as she pointed to the animal. "That's a 'tubsheer'. Holding the rope is Colonel Leona MacPherson. The Colonel heads up Australia's Space Technologies Unit, which falls under General Hancock's Digital Defence Unit." She frowned in the direction of Euan Smart and saw his mouth open wide in recognition and shock. "General Hancock and Colonel MacPherson have been involved in this project since the beginning." She turned to the Colonel. "Leona. Just what is that thing?"

Leona chuckled and looked from Avani to the people gathered in the chamber. "This is one of the herd beasts we have worked with on Karma. We call it a Tubsheer due to its tubby shape, sheep-like fleece and partial resemblance to deer." She quirked an eyebrow. "It was the first animal we named, so it was a bit clunky."

There was a round of relieved laughter at this comment, and various questions were asked. The group from the StepWorlds was happy to answer any questions and provide all the details anyone wanted to hear. After some thirty minutes of this, Avani held up a hand, and the chamber quietened. She looked across to Euan and tilted her head. "I ask, again, what say you?"

Euan looked around at his colleagues, brow wrinkled in uncertainty. He shook his head slightly before looking back to the Bus and Avani. "I had no idea." He shrugged apologetically. "I know, you told me." He shook his head. "I just didn't want to believe you." He looked at his colleagues again and shrugged. "If we can really have peace and an end to this game we play, then I'm all for it." He breathed out, still watching his party members. "What say you?"

There was a slight pause before, to a member, they all responded, 'Aye.'

He turned to Avani and nodded, eyes crinkled and sparkling. "Aye!"

Avani turned to the full chamber and shouted. "How say you?"

The noise was deafening. There were shouts of 'Aye,' followed by a cacophony of whoops, cheers, and other excited calls. Avani raised a hand to get some quiet, and after a couple of minutes, things quietened enough for her to be heard. "Are there any Nays?"

The chamber was silent as a tomb, apart from small grunts from the tubsheer. Avani looked up with a broad smile. "The Aye's have it!"

Chapter 35

The social media landscape was a battleground, with comments, videos, and memes about aliens, StepWorlds, rats, and peaceniks. The misquoting of Avani Campbell's speech to the UN sparked a debate about Australia's motives and its dealings with allies. In the midst of this chaos, a stark division emerged between those who sought a new life in the StepWorlds and those who condemned them as peaceniks and traitors, creating unhealthy tension in society.

The most vocal of the haters combined under #poe, an abbreviation for Patriots of Earth. They grew into a highly active group that hunted out and threatened peaceniks wherever they could.

Dale Milne saw what was happening on Earth and felt the need to do something about it. Before he'd migrated, he'd had a couple of social media accounts, but he wasn't what anyone could call a big user. He sought out Jerry Bos and told him of his concerns.

Jerry nodded his understanding. "But, what can we do? We don't have any control over what goes on there, and we can't just respond to the lies; they'd have a field day."

Dale leaned forward. "I know." His brows came together as he tried to find the words to describe his thinking. "My background is systems design, logistics, micro-controllers in warehousing, and automation. That sort of thing." He caught Jerry's eye. "Is there something we can do that is like a helper function? Something that monitors the flow of message activity and, if appropriate, sends a helpful idea?" He frowned. "Something like that?"

Jerry's eyes closed, and his brow furrowed as he thought about what Dale had suggested. After a minute, Jerry nodded, and his eyes narrowed. "I think I see what you are getting at." He chuckled and looked at Dale with a smile. "An Agent. Someone who can see what's happening and knows how to navigate through the noise." He tilted his head and frowned. "It can be connected to ConMan and Quinn, possibly MilSec." He nodded to himself. "It'll have to monitor the network's traffic and include algorithms to determine that an account or post is real or a trap." Jerry's brow started to smooth out as he spoke, and the solution became clearer. "The Agent can offer pathways for people who want to migrate to the StepWorlds."

Dale grinned and nodded. "That would be fantastic! Hundreds of people must want to move but can't find a way out."

Earth's social media platforms continued to thrum with StepWorld discussions. However, gradually, those who wanted peace and were interested in StepWorlds as a potential future started to notice various hashtags and channels that offered information, advice and pathways. The primary feed, #pacman, was an excellent resource for people wanting to leave countries that were not part of the Peace Alliance.

Behind the scenes, PacMan was the StepWorld AI developed by Jerry and Dale. It used sophisticated traffic analysis to determine the authenticity of an account. It also analysed message patterns, timing and tone to avoid traps set by bad actors. PacMan was able to design pathways for people both on and off media, setting up dead drops and passphrases and simply hearing a call for help. If PacMan was directly messaged for help, it replied with a one-time message that deleted and erased itself when opened. Upon opening, a nanoprobe is Stepped to the location of the originating device to verify the circumstances. If found to be valid, an extraction is planned, often a simple Step Vehicle that provides an immediate recovery.

***

President Serle held up a finger and admonished the General Assembly representatives. "That is why they are so dangerous." He narrowed his eyes. "And that is why we must act." He shook his head. "Not tomorrow or next week. We must act today. Now!"

The agitation in the audience was pronounced, especially where members of the Peace Alliance or those who had joined the StepWorlds were adjacent to members who were firmly set on avoiding risk and keeping the status quo.

The US President watched the scuffles and nodded, smiling to himself. "Already, they cause trouble. They are divisive. This carrot of peace is an illusion." He looked at the Australian desk. "We." He swept his arm around the auditorium. "We. All of us. We have issued a resolution that the so-called solar collector be dismantled and removed." He looked, again, at Tess Barker, Australia's Permanent Representative. "They laugh in our faces! They blandly talk peace, but their actions speak to the opposite." His eyes darkened. "War is what they want. They want to bring us to our knees." He looked around the audience again. "Already, they set up secret pathways to steal our children, our brains, our future. Sucking our lifeblood from us as we watch." His fist slammed down on the podium. "While. We. Watch!"

He was silent as he put his palms on the back of the podium, stepped back slightly, and bowed his head. He slowly lifted his head, his eyes narrowed, his face radiating intensity. "Well, not on my watch!" His eyes glittered. "Not. On. My. Watch." He let his eyes move across the auditorium. "What about you? What about YOUR Watch?" He lifted his chin. Will you let them steal YOUR future?"

There were shouts from the desks of China, Russia, France and the United Kingdom; the permanent members of the Security Council were in agreement. Additional shouts came from close affiliates and partners from around the world.

The President raised an arm for silence. "I thought not." He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "This so-called 'Peace Alliance' has proved to be nothing more than a power grab." He shook his head. "They create havoc with our economies and cause division amongst our peoples." He looked at the Australians with a sneer. "And, when we ask that they remove their abhorrent technologies from orbit, they shoot us down." He looked down and shook his head. "They shoot us down. This peace-loving scam of theirs shoots us down."

He ran his eyes across the audience chamber a final time, catching every eye he could on the way. "It is the position of the Security Council that any nation that allies itself with this Alliance of Discord should be expelled from this body immediately." There was a swelling of voices, and the President raised his voice. "In addition to expulsion, these allies of the devil will be sanctioned and shunned by those who remain true to our world and our rules-based order."

The Secretary-General, Jose Reyes of the Philippines, stood and called for order. It was a long time coming, but when it did, the Secretary-General dropped his own bombshell. "The President of the United States has called for a vote on the expulsion of nations who choose peace over war." He looked at the podium before him and nodded as he took a deep breath and lifted his head. "Shortly before this meeting, the Parliament of the Philippines voted unanimously to join the Peace Alliance." He waved his arm to regain some semblance of order. "We are aligning with the StepWorlds, and our people will freely move there as they wish." He smiled as the noise rose and fell. When it was low enough for him to continue, he gave a sad smile. "I have been privileged to be the Secretary-General of the United Nations for the years I have been able. I wish the next Secretary-General good luck." With that, Jose Reyes left the podium and went to the Philippines desk, where he sat and shook hands with his colleagues.

The abrupt departure of the Secretary-General caused a stir among the representatives; nothing like this had ever happened previously. After some minutes of discussion behind closed microphones, the Deputy Secretary-General moved to the Secretary-General's position and coughed politely into the microphone. "Fellow delegates, due to the unusual circumstances we are faced with, the Security Council has nominated the Permanent Representative from Belarus, Vladimir Ivanov, as the new Secretary-General." He looked at the US President before looking back into the hall. "I know it is unusual. Can we have a show of hands? All those in favour?" Approximately one hundred hands were raised. The Deputy nodded. "All those against?" At this, only some thirty hands were raised. The Deputy looked across to Vladimir Ivanov and smiled. He stood back from the podium and to one side. "May I welcome the new Secretary-General, Vladimir Ivanov."

At least a hundred delegates applauded as Vladimir made his way to the Secretary-General's place in the hall.

Ivanov bowed graciously before standing tall and raising his arms to accept the role. "Thank you. Thank you." He pursed his lips before thrusting out his chin. "We have business to conduct."

He looked at the President of the United States. Searle, who had smiled contentedly to himself during the sideshow, took Ivanov's eye and nodded.

Ivanov turned back to the assembly. The Security Council has unanimously proposed that members of the Peace Alliance be expelled from this body immediately." He looked around the hall. "And, these nations shall also be sanctioned and shunned by those that choose to live in a unified world."

Ivanov stood tall and smiled at the collected representatives of their nations. "Let us have hands once more. All those in favour of the resolution?" As previously, some hundred hands were raised. It was an obvious majority. The Secretary-General smiled. "Those against?" This time, close to forty hands were raised. They looked at each other and shook their heads at the folly of humanity.

"The resolution is passed!" shouted the new Secretary-General. "From this moment on, the members of the Peace Alliance are no longer a part of the United Nations. They have forty-eight hours to vacate their offices and remove their flags."

The Australian representative, Tess Barker, turned to her assistant. "Holy crap! I better get onto the PM."

***

Kyla Radford opened her eyes and saw her parents standing beside her bed. Their hands were tightly clasped. Both had shining eyes, smiles and tears.

"Mama? Papa?"

Pol Radford reached across the edge of the bed and took Kyla's hand gently into her own. "Hiya baby. We're here."

Kyla smiled at her parents and drifted off again.

A few minutes later, the duty nurse arrived and checked Kyla's vitals. "Did she wake up?"

"Just for a moment," answered Kyla's Dad, Lynas. He gave the nurse a small smile. "She seemed okay."

The nurse checked her watch. "Doctor Okada will be by soon. He'll update you on progress - apparently, it's going well." She smiled at the two adults and left to check on other patients.

Pol turned to Linus, seeing the tension in his body and the hope in his eyes. "Come. Stand with me. She'll be fine."

Linus walked around the bed and took up a position by his wife. He took her hand and smiled shyly.

"What?" she asked.

Linus grinned and shook his head. "Just thinking how lucky I am; you standing by me despite my taking things out on you."

Pol frowned but returned her husband's smile. "The accident was real, and I knew it hit you hard." Her eyes narrowed as she looked him in the eye. "We are but humans. I love you, and I love our daughter." She grinned, "It's good to have you back, though."

They held each other silently until interrupted by Dr. Okada a few minutes later.

The doctor smiled. "It is good to see two people come through what you have both been through; it will help Kyla."

Linus turned to his daughter, who was still asleep. "How is she, doctor? Will her leg be okay?"

Dr. Okada smiled and nodded. "It is a wonder, but she will be fine." She gave a slight shake of her head. "Without SynCon, her healing would have been impossible. We have made a truly remarkable use of the Step technology."

Pol's brow furrowed, and her head tilted slightly. "Can you explain it to us, doctor?" she looked again at Kyla. "Kyla will be asking how it was fixed; she is very curious."

Kasumi Okada's lips pursed as she considered her answer. "I will try; the operation was complex." Her eyes unfocused as she tuned into her memory of the operation. "SynCon became aware of Kyla's situation and put some of its resources into understanding the problem." She shook her head and focused on Pol, "I don't know the first thing about AIs, but they are remarkably beneficial. SynCon connected the mining of small quantities with nano Step technology and surgical techniques." Her head tilted as she remembered. "It was the first time Step technology had been used this way, and I was more an assistant than a surgeon." She took a breath. "We started by exposing the damaged knee so that we could attend to any byproducts, as SynCon put it." She raised an eyebrow. "Any bleeding that needed attention; that sort of thing." She shook her head again. "As I watched, Kyla's knee started to shift." She frowned, "That's the only way I can describe it. There was a blur around the knee and leg as SynCon Stepped pieces of 'scaffolding' in and out to shift the leg and knee as it worked on the repair." She looked up, "That's about it. I cleaned the area and stitched her up when it was finished." She shrugged and smiled. "SynCon did the work."

Pol had leaned forward as Dr. Okada had talked; she straightened and breathed again before her head tilted. "Doctor, why are both knees bandaged?"

Dr Okada's brow furrowed. "SynCon described its operation in terms of mining. It removed what needed to be removed and inserted what needed to be inserted." Her lips tightened. "Some of the inserted material came from the undamaged knee."

Seeing Pol's lips turn down, she held up her hand. "It's nothing to concern yourself about. The matching tissue will speed the recovery, and the other knee will replace the small amount taken in a few days." She gave a slight shrug. "All you'll notice is a little bruising, which will fade quickly."

Pol sighed and took Linus's hand; she squeezed as she looked at her husband and smiled.

Linus turned to Kasumi. "Doctor, how long until she can walk?"

"She should start rehab tomorrow. Give her a week, and she'll run you both ragged!"

Linus couldn't believe it. "A week? That is wonderful news!"

The doctor chuckled. "You're telling me! We have already asked for a dedicated AI surgeon to join the hospital's staff."

Chapter 36

Dennis looked at the gathered representatives. Over fifty nations had opted for peace, and all of them were angered by the response of the Security Council and their expulsion from the UN. Tuvalu, the smallest nation with a population under twelve thousand, had simply wanted peace and a way for its people to survive the changing climate that threatened them. The DRC and the Philippines had over 100 million people each. The DRC was tired of fighting, famine and threats and simply wanted to live peacefully. The Philippines were at risk from climate change, but their primary motivation mirrored Australia's; they merely wanted to live their own lives without being pawns to more powerful countries. The Secretary-General of the UN, Jose Reyes, had experienced the interference and coercion first-hand and had been a strong influence in changing the Philippine President's stance.

Dennis raised a hand. "Welcome all. A lot has transpired in the last short while." There were a few chuckles and groans at how much had changed in such a short time. "This meeting is a means for us to discuss the future of our peoples." His smile faded, and a frown deepened. "From the start, the powerful countries have taken a stance against peace." He lifted his head. "Their aggression started much earlier with their attempts to steal the Step field technology - but that's another story." He shook his head. "The members of the Security Council have used their strength and influence to make peace and free energy look like gifts of the devil. We are all aware of the misinformation being aired in the United States, China, Russia and others. Polls show that upwards of sixty-five per cent of their populations believe, and are unsettled, by these falsehoods." He scowled. "Especially those that branded the Peace Alliance as a terrorist organisation." His mouth drooped, and he shrugged. "On the other side of the coin, a significant percentage of the populations in those countries want to join us. Those people are being arrested if discovered."

He took a deep breath and lifted his head. "Due to the expulsion and sanctions, we believe the Peace Alliance will be under continual physical and psychological attack." His eyes roamed the people before him, and his lips flattened into a thin line. "We can protect against physical attack, but that's not going to be the problem." He shook his head. "The problem will be the attacks by the rest of the world against your culture, history, and people. You know what will happen." He looked around the faces again. "They will force you to make a choice." His eyes flattened. "Join them or have your soul destroyed."

The various leaders and representatives talked amongst themselves for a while, and as Dennis watched, a whorl of activity seemed to flow through the group. Finally, Jose Reyes and Folade Hamadou stood before him. Dennis smiled when they indicated they would like to join him. When the three of them were settled at the podium, Folade looked at Jose and twitched an eye at the microphone.

Jose smiled, eyes glittering. "You first."

Folade's face became stern as she turned to the other representatives. "I am Folade Hamadou. Most of you know me, but for those who do not, I represent fifteen African nations and over half a billion people." She shrugged, and her eyes narrowed. "Like many of you, the powerful exploit our country and people for their own benefit. These people corrupt our people and shower them with flattery and supposed wealth." She lifted her chin in pride. "We will not be used that way again. We choose the StepWorlds." Although unexpected, Folade's statement received vigorous applause and agreement as she made way for Jose.

Jose smiled. "Most of you know me!" There was some laughter and banter at this statement, for most had participated in many meetings with Jose in the UN. Jose's smile faded into a look of deep concern. "What Dennis says is correct. We all know that, as outcasts, we will continually face a strong headwind, and that headwind will grind at our people's hearts." He turned to Dennis and smiled before turning back to his colleagues. "Dennis Crossing represents the StepWorlds. These StepWorlders are no different from us on the outside, but…" He looked up to make his point. "…they ARE different on the inside." He smiled and twitched an eye. "They have left Earth. They have moved on." His eyes retained a sparkle but also issued a challenge. "When they left Earth, they also left Earth's ways behind them. On the inside, they have no lust for power or wealth. There is no need to harness more and more resources. No desire to have what someone else has." He paused and breathed out a happy sigh. "Instead, they have peace and time. Time to learn, explore and help each other. All in a context of respect for life."

He turned back to Dennis, who waggled his eyebrows in agreement and smiled. Jose looked back at the microphone and then up at the other representatives. "Our people trust us. The Philippines chose peace and a focus on our people's well-being. We will not be cowed into changing that decision. We will migrate all our people to the StepWorlds, and those superpowers can fight over the spoils after we're gone!"

There was some surprise at the intensity and emotion in Jose's last statement, but it made its point, and other leaders were carried in the moment to agree. Dennis took the opportunity to move back to the podium. "My thanks to you both. I wasn't sure how I could explain the situation, but the key thing is we want you on the StepWorlds. We have been lucky enough to find this new place, and we want humanity to share it - without the wars and waste!"

There was a bit of banter, and when it quietened down, Dennis smiled warmly. "I'd like to ask James Kentley to pop up here and tell you about the Step field and what it means. After all, it is a key component of the StepWorlds you're looking to move into."

James took the mike and smiled. "Thank you. It is an honour." He shrugged and gave a small smile. "The first thing is, yes, we have discovered planets, and they can support human life." He shrugged. "I discovered something wonderful. It was an accident - but many discoveries are accidents." He narrowed his eyes. "This discovery, as you are aware, is a Step field. It is a technology that will transport something from where it is to somewhere else." He raised a finger. "Instantly, if the mass is small. A bit longer if the mass is large." He looked up and smiled. "You'll have seen or heard about Avani Campbell's demonstration of the interlocked spanners at her presentation to the General Assembly." He gave a slight shrug. "That was a use of Step technology." He waved a hand. "Don't worry, I won't go into the physics right now!" There were a few smiles and chuckles at this.

James tilted his head. "The Step field can transport items larger than a spanner. Things like a bus full of people, for example. This is how we transported people for the NewHope housing program in Australia and refugees in the Resettlement Embassies." James noticed a bit of discussion and smiled. "Some of you are wondering where we have transported all these people to." There were a few nods of agreement at this, and James grinned. "In exploring the capabilities of the Step field, we found that we could use it to go much further than we expected. Since its development, we have found hundreds of planets much like Earth."

He lifted his chin. "The Step technology has been used in many other ways. One key application has been its use to develop orbital manufacturing facilities." He shrugged. "There's a lot you can do when you don't have to worry about gravity." He paused before continuing. "By combining small advances in computer processing and quantum computing, we have also developed advanced artificial intelligence capabilities." His eyebrows rose. "We've used AIs to improve our orbital manufacturing, which, in turn, allows for the development of more capable AIs." He smiled. "We had a few key criteria to meet when we discovered our first planet, Karma. They included that we utilise renewable energy, have as little environmental impact as possible, and use technology to the maximum. We have achieved those capability goals."

James loosened his shoulders and neck. "In the StepWorlds, we have everything we need. We have energy and technologies that meet every need. We have food, shelter, and communities. We have abundance. We have peace. We have space for all of your people and billions more." He took a breath through his nose and let it out before continuing. "We are all equal as humans. We can choose to do what we like - no societal code of right and wrong exists. If I want to be an artist, I can be an artist. Research, exploration, thinking, fishing, farming, serving scones on Shibui or eating scones on Shibui. Free to choose."

He tapped the podium with his fingers. He was nervous but knew he had to bring this up. "On the StepWorlds, our values are simple. We respect all life and free will." His eyes narrowed as he circled to the point he wanted to make. "Everything else, all other constructs, whatever they may be, were created on Earth and have been left on Earth." He paused. "That includes religion." He was a bit surprised at the lack of response to this idea as many of the people coming through the Resettlement Embassies had real trouble with it. "Some of you and, if not you, then some of your people will believe in a god or gods. Regarding the StepWorlds philosophy, you are free to believe and act however you choose. What you can't do is try to force your belief on others." He shrugged. "It may be a moot point as new immigrants seem happy to adopt the StepWorld's respect for all life as compatible with the intent of the beliefs they held on Earth."

James' lips were slightly pursed as he considered what to say next. "The only other possibly contentious issue for some people is power. Who has the power? Who makes decisions?" It's an important issue. He tilted his head at Dennis. "Dennis represents the StepWorlds. He is the Chairman of the StepWorld Council, a body of twelve 'Peoples Representatives'." He grinned. "I was not selected as a representative of the people, so I am not on the Council." He smiled. "Which is a good thing! It allows me more time for research." He gave a small shrug. "Our Peoples Representatives are people chosen by our people. No political parties, no ideologies, no corruption." He grinned at his audience. "That means most of you will be out of a job unless you get picked by your local community as a Representative at the next Selection!"

James sighed. "None of us expected the situation on Earth to degenerate in the way it has, as fast as it has. Ideally, you and your people would have more time to understand the StepWorlds better." He frowned. "Instead, we are threatened and expelled by the Security Council and harassed by people who think we are terrorists, stealing their freedoms, their sunshine and their future. The United States is a powerful influence on global affairs. They still pull in massive wealth through that influence and control. China is growing its muscle and, in this case, has joined with America." He shrugged. "I don't know why." His eyebrows rose. "I thought President Zhu was all for equality. It seems not. I expect the idea of free will for the people and no political power is as repugnant to China as it is to the United States."

He bit his lip and frowned. "That's all I can tell you. The StepWorlds culture is different from Earth's, and the step you must take is a large one." He was about to return the podium to Dennis when he saw Ryan Hodge from New Zealand wave a hand for attention. James smiled and called him up to the microphone. "Do you want to say something, Ryan?"

The Representative from New Zealand looked around at his colleagues. "We had strong doubts when debating whether to join Australia in the StepWorlds. Our land is our history. It is part of us. It would be heartbreaking to leave." He paused and shrugged. "In the end, we recognised that our roots, as humans, is the planet we know as Earth. Before our ancestors populated Aotearoa, the land of the long white cloud, they lived in another place. And another before that." He smiled. "Part of our modern narrative is loyalty to our land. It keeps us together to face up to people from a different land." He shrugged. "It's not easy to break out of that narrative, that belief. Our ancestors did, though. Our ancestors moved to make a better life." He raised his hands, palms up. "That is what we must also do."

Generally, the representatives' mood was upbeat, even eager. Some, though, were still unsure. They talked amongst themselves and with those from New Zealand and Australia. Gradually, fear and uncertainty started to morph into hope. As they quietened, Dennis stood and opened his arms at his side. "Would you like to have a look?"

A little over an hour later, they exited the bus, wandered through the hangar doors, and entered a new world. The air was fresh and clean, and it was quiet. Most were beyond understanding their first impressions, but it was like nothing they could have imagined. The hangar was located on a hill overlooking a settlement that had developed into a large town that blended into the countryside for kilometres. In the distance, a river sparkled. Herds of tubsheer and larger beasts grazed the plentiful grassland on its banks. Scattered around were crops of grain and other foods. They all looked lush and healthy. Buildings were abundant, but they couldn't be said to be densely packed together. Nor were they tall. Once noticed, they could be seen nestled within trees or in clusters on a tall hill. Rows of what looked like vegetables were dotted everywhere, as were orchards. Gardens were busy with people tending to the crops or planting and harvesting. None of the artificial structures or activities detracted from the town's natural feel and peace.

Dennis watched as the Peace Alliance representatives got a sense of what peace truly was. "This is 'Haven'. We named it sometime back when we had grown beyond calling it 'the settlement'." He looked out with evident pride. "We have almost one hundred thousand people living here. The great bulk of those people were disadvantaged or refugees on Earth. He smiled. "Here, on Karma and others of the Step Worlds, we have no disadvantage, nor do we need to run. Here, we are free to live in peace."

They descended a winding path that sloped gently through the natural vegetation. The sounds of people talking could be heard in the distance and increased until they merged with another path, busy with people walking in both directions. Dennis and James waved and nodded as people greeted them. Dennis turned to his group. "We'll pop into the dining room and freshen up," he smiled. It will give you a chance to meet some of our people."

They followed the path for another twenty metres and then took a fork towards a large hemispherical building surrounded by gardens. The building was light and airy despite being constructed of steel, which looked more like a natural material than a metal. Batbayer Ganbat, the Mongolian representative, placed his hand on a wall and drew it slowly across the surface. His eyes opened in wonder, and he looked around the structure, a smile on his face.

He nudged Folade Hamadou's arm next to him and said, "I like the feel!" Folade leaned forward and touched the wall. She looked into Batbayer's eyes and nodded. She was going to say something, but the words stuck in her throat with the emotion she felt. She swallowed and gave Batbayer a soft smile as she nodded again.

A few hours passed quickly as they met people and talked with them. Some, like James, had come in the first brave Step from Earth to escape mercenaries who were hell-bent on stealing the secrets of Step technology. Others had only been in the StepWorlds for less than a month. The relief on the faces of those who had used the refugee resettlement Embassies was plain to see, as was the joy in their hearts. These people were already part of the fabric of Haven as they learned new languages and other skills while harvesting food or clearing tables or, if already skilled, involving themselves in a research project into something like composting or medicine.

James used Shibui as an example of free will. "We have a world that was selected by a Vietnamese woman named Mai Linh and a Japanese woman named Sasaki Chika. They had been kidnapped some years previously and forced to serve in unpleasant circumstances in the west of Russia. They escaped when they heard about a chance at a new life in Australia through social media and made their way to a pickup point." He frowned. "They were lucky." James gave a slight shrug. "Once here, they wanted to give back as much as possible. They discovered that people, especially the special forces teams, were becoming stressed. They formed a plan and asked for a planet, preferably with many islands, that they could turn into a recreational destination. The planet's name is Shibui and is dedicated to relaxation." He looked at the Vietnamese representative and smiled. "Many people go there for a holiday. It is staffed by people who choose to be there. Cooks, cleaners, room service, pool cleaners. Whatever is needed. Or, not needed but wanting to be done by somebody." He ran his eye over the group. "Shibui is a world that is dedicated to rest and relaxation. It is a critical part of the StepWorlds and provides an essential service to everyone, but I'd be pretty sure that the exploration and security teams like it the most."

Chapter 37

The StepWorld Emigration Prohibition Act represents Congress's firm resolve to halt the drain of citizens who attempt to migrate to the so-called StepWorlds. It includes an initial $200 billion package of deterrence funding covering increased border protection, additional walls and similar structures on remote borders and increased spending on technology. The Act also aims to increase fines and sentencing terms for those who break the law.

The legislation introduces a novel measure, the use of location tracking pellets, to deter and monitor those who attempt to emigrate, ensuring the law is upheld.

The Bill passed with a sizeable majority in both houses and across both Democrats and Republicans.

***

The mass migration of Peace Alliance populations was chaotic. Transit hubs, like Frankfurt Station, were the epicentres of this controlled mayhem. They were strategically located at the intersections of road, rail, and air routes, pulsating with the constant influx and outflow of people. Along with Berlin and Munich, Frankfurt Station was a bustling hub, handling the bulk of Germany's 84 million souls.

Emma Meyer stepped into the bus, turned, and held a hand to her daughter, Frieda. The step was large for the little girl, but, with a jump, she was beside her mother and shooed towards the seats. Emma smiled at her husband, Karl, love in her eyes as he held their 'nearly' five-year-old son Conrad up before reaching for their small backpack of family photos and a couple of favourite toys.

Emma had just turned to settle the kids into their seats when she caught a sudden flash of light out of the corner of her eye. Before she could fully comprehend what was happening, she heard a clunk as the bus's door closed. In the next instant, everything was enveloped in a suffocating darkness.

"Mama?"

"I'm here, Frieda."

Before she could say more, the lights came on, and Emma could see the kids sitting close together with uncertain faces. Emma stood and looked towards the rear of the bus. All the passengers looked afraid, eyes wide open and silent.

She frowned and started to turn around. "Karl? What happened"

Karl wasn't there. She blinked, and her forehead wrinkled. "Karl?" Understanding hit her. She staggered and fell into the seat beside her children, eyes wide, pupils shrunk to pinpoints and mouth open. Her heart tore open, and she could feel the scream building up inside.

"Mama?"

"Mama? Where's Papa?"

"Mama?"

Emma stamped down on her grief and pushed her emotion to the side. Her children needed her more. She brushed tears from her cheek with a shaky hand and wiped the side of her mouth where she felt some moisture. Her eyes were brimming as she reached across and hugged her children close. "Papa's not on this bus," she said gently. "We'll find Papa later."

The buses that escaped Frankfurt and Uvira were diverted to Karma as it was closer. The incoming people had no idea what had happened and were full of questions about the situation and family members. It was a tough time for StepWorlders, who, for the main, had put violence behind them. Alice Poole took the lead and guided the migrants with sureness and compassion.

There were few injuries amongst those who were on Buses that had time to seal the hatch and Step before the pressure wave hit. A few had caught a partial blast, which caused minor injuries to passengers who hadn't been seated at the time. Only one Bus had Stepped with a partially open hatch. Alice's head drooped when she saw the result, and she sent the bus to the planet Compost to be emptied and cleaned before returning to service. After all the buses had been accounted for, they found five were lost in Frankfurt and three in Uvira.

Alice greeted each Bus personally if she could and was there when Emma and her children stood at the open hatch. She saw the look in Emma's eyes and knew immediately what had happened. Alice held her arms wide and braced herself as Emma fell into her arms.

As Emma let her grief wash out, Alice gave the two children a small, encouraging smile and held out a hand for them to hold onto.

Conrad caught Alice's eye as they stood, a question on his face. "Papa?"

Alice smiled sadly and squeezed his shoulder. Conrad's face crumpled as he started to sob.

As Emma's tears slowed, she stepped back and gathered her children close. She whispered comforting words, and they gradually settled enough for Emma to give Alice a wan smile. "Thank you." Her eyes shone with her pain, but she swallowed and stood tall. "Where do we go?"

Alice smiled encouragingly. "Come with me."

She led the group into one of the transit rooms, which was already half full from other Buses from Frankfurt. The quiet chatter dissipated as Alice moved to the front of the room.

She looked at Emma and her children before settling her eyes on the middle of the group. "There was an attack on the transit loop." A few people shouted in shock, but Alice continued. "We don't know who the perpetrators were, as yet, but they have attacked Uvira in the DRC as well as Frankfurt." She took a breath and waited for the talk to subside. "At this stage, the bomb in Frankfurt was planted some days ago in containers at a nearby siding. It was a large explosion that destroyed most of Frankfurt station and damaged many nearby buildings." She looked around the group with a sad smile and brows drawn together. "There have been over a thousand people killed in the Frankfurt blast. Most of them, like you, were waiting to leave." There were cries at that news, for many of the arrivals would have had friends and family in the queues.

Alice bowed her head before lifting it and making eye contact with as many as she could. "We're here with you now. The StepWorlds are with you." She frowned. "I know that's cold comfort for some of you right now." She acknowledged Emma and the children. "Let the grief come." Her chin lifted. Then, when you are ready, come with us and step into a new life."

A team of helpers moved from the back wall and started talking to the newcomers, answering questions, and pointing out areas of interest, including the community accommodations that Alice had set aside for the survivors to use until they recovered.

Alice moved to where Emma sat with her children and sat beside her. "What was your husband's name?"

Emma gave a wan smile. "Karl." Just saying his name brought back her sense of loss, and her face crumpled. When she regained her composure a little, she looked at Alice. "He was a good man. Idealistic and young but with a good heart." She frowned. "We are young. Our past is always a shadow, and our economy is difficult. There is a lot of political uncertainty."

Alice nodded, encouraging Emma to go on.

"Karl was so positive about moving to the StepWorlds. He envisioned it as a fresh start, not just for us but for our children and their futures. An opportunity to be a…" She gave a small laugh. "'Schrittewelter', a StepWorlder." Her smile faded, and her words dried up.

Alice smiled to herself. "Schrittewelter. Has a good ring to it. Full of energy!" She tilted her head. "Did you have plans? What would you like to do, or where would you like to live?"

Emma looked up and nodded, appreciating what Alice was trying to do. She sighed deeply. "We'd been thinking about the country. You know, fields, animals, that kind of thing. We've always been boxed in with houses, flats, roads. We wanted some space."

Alice frowned in thought. "Hang on a tick." She turned and walked off a couple of paces. "Selina. Hi."

"Hi, Alice. How's it going? I heard about the bombs."

"It's a bloody nightmare, to be honest. Apart from the impact on the immigrants, we're not going to be able to risk it happening again, so there's more security and fewer transit loops."

Selina grunted. "You must be busy. What can I do for you?"

"I'm not sure if you can help, but I recalled that you were looking to add to the crew down on the farm, and I have someone who needs help."

"What do you have in mind?"

Alice sighed. "One of the Buses from Germany came in with a mother and two kids. The Bus closed the hatch and stepped when the light blast hit. The father was about to board."

Selina groaned. "That's terrible. How are they?"

Alice turned her head and saw Emma hugging her children close. "As bad as you'd expect. It's been less than two hours since the attack." Alice paused a moment as she watched the mother and her children. "Can you take them on over there, Sel? They were keen on open spaces, animals… you know!"

Selina smiled. "Of course, they can come over here! There's a million things to do, and I'm sure we'll have them all busy one way or another."

Alice grinned. "I'm sure! The youngest can't be three yet!"

"Ah. The perfect age to pet baby tubsheer! Give me a tick, and I'll Step up."

Alice turned back to see Emma watching her. She smiled. "I've fixed you up with one of our early settlers, Selina Crossing. She and her family started the farming practices that feed us all, and they live in the farmhouse down by the river."

Emma's head was tilted as she listened.

Alice pushed on. "It's not going to fix the hurt you feel, but it will give you a chance to come to terms with it in a good environment." She shrugged. "Selina's got a couple of children, and I'm sure they'll want to play."

As she approached Alice, Selina was brushing off her moleskins - or what passed for moleskins in the StepWorlds.

Alice nodded and turned to the family. "This is Emma Meyer and her children, Conrad and Frieda." She put a hand on Selina's arm. "Emma, this is Selina. She is a very good friend and needs help on the farm."

Selina knelt on the floor to get on the same level as Emma and the kids, eyes wide with compassion. "Would you like to stay with me on the farm for a while?"

Emma looked from Selina to Alice and back again, eyes red, chest rising and falling rapidly with her breath. Her chin trembled, and her eyes filled, but she kept the emotion close for now. She put on a brave face and nodded. It was the saddest brave face Alice had ever seen.

Selina put her arm around Emma's shoulder and took Conrad's hand in her own. She turned to Alice and nodded that all would be well before they made their way to a PTV and Stepped down to the farm.

Alice looked at the space where the vehicle had stood and sighed deeply before turning back to see what else needed to be done.

***

The blasts in Germany and DRC sent a shockwave through the Peace Alliance nations as they came face to face with the rage being displayed by the new face of the UN. That rage intensified after the attacks and increased further when the StepWorld Emigration Prohibition was enacted. One particular idea quickly took root in social media under the #poe feed: that of bounty hunters. These people used a variety of tricks to hunt down the 'peaceniks' they despised.

***

Robbie North dialled Jett Pearce and scratched his armpit as the call rang.

"Yo, Robbie. S'up?"

"Hey, Jett. We could have one heading up this way."

"Peacenik?"

"Yep."

"Where are they headed?"

"Post's not fully clear, but it looks like the old Hughes place, out past the range."

"I know the place." Jett paused as he worked the route through in his head. "Why don't you come to my place? We'll take the XRT. If they get feisty, we can chase them down."

Robbie grunted. "Sounds like a plan. I'll be there in ten."

While Robbie made his way to Jett's place, Jett opened the shed door and lifted the XRT's hood. He checked the oil and water and was fastening the hood again when Robbie slid into the yard in a splash of dust and gravel.

Robbie jumped out of his truck and strolled into the shed, high-fiving his friend. Seen together, you'd be forgiven for mistaking them for brothers, perhaps twins. They were of a height at a little over six feet and an inch or two. Thin and wiry in physique and scraggly facial hair, both wore ball caps that were so discoloured and oily that the original sponsors couldn't be deciphered. They slapped each other on the back as they watched updated info coming into the chat from people tracking various PacMan posts in different feeds.

Robbie frowned. "I reckon it'll be the old barn. I bet the peaceniks think it's a safe place."

Jett tilted his head and nodded at Robbie. "You've been out there, so you'll know. How about we set up an ambush to get them before they head into the barn." He frowned. "You know how slimy fast these peaceniks can be sometimes!"

Robbie smiled. "Let's go to it! I've got a good feeling about this one."

The XRT wasn't a fast vehicle on the main roads, but it did the job when it was rough. Robbie sat back, brain working. If the peaceniks did a runner, they'd have no chance against the XRT. From the look of things on the feed, there could also be a couple of kids, which would slow them down even more. He smiled to himself. The idea of being a bounty hunter sat well with his view of the world, and he sighed happily. If they got this family of four, it'd be an easy grand apiece for him and Jett.

Robbie opened his eyes and looked at Jett as he let out a loud whoop of joy.

***

Emmet Byrne checked the navigation and could see they were just a couple of miles from the turnoff. Their instructions via PacMan had kept them off the beaten track and had been updated only in short hops so that bounty hunters couldn't get the jump on them. The last scheduled check-in had them backtrack some five miles and then put them onto a new dirt road until the upcoming turnoff.

As directed, Emmet stopped a quarter mile before the turnoff and checked in with PacMan. It took a moment for him to insert the battery and connect, but there were no changes. He removed the battery and put the phone in his pocket before returning to the road and going to the driveway.

At the top of the drive was an old house that had seen better days. Beside it was a closed shed and, parked nearby, was a farm truck with the driver's door open and the key in the ignition. Emmet put his finger to his lips to remind the kids to keep silent, then he turned and gave his wife a smile and a nod. He made his way to the shed and pushed on the door, which slid aside easily. He only moved it enough to squeeze his head in and ensure the shed was empty.

Seeing the shed was clear, he waved for his wife and kids to join him. He waved his hands up and down slowly to keep the kids quiet as they approached. Once inside the shed, Emmett dropped his phone on the ground and smashed it with his heel. He looked at his family and smiled. "PacMan, we're ready."

Within a second, what looked like a box appeared in the open area of the shed. A door opened outwards, and a voice spoke. "Welcome, Emmett and family. Please enter the transport vehicle."

***

Robbie was still spitting vitriol at the failure of their hunt when he was interrupted by Jett's slamming the brakes on the XRT. "What the fuck's that?"

Robbie looked up the driveway and saw the strange vehicle parked by his truck. "Are you expecting visitors, Jett?"

"Nope."

Jett started up the drive again and parked the XRT in front of the white Hyundai sedan. Both men hopped out, and Jett reached under the driver's seat to pull out a gun. He checked the load and cleared the safety before putting a finger to his lips.

Robbie nodded and checked the Hyundai while Jett opened the door to the house and checked inside. Jett reappeared a few minutes later and shook his head before jerking his head towards the shed.

They carefully stepped up to the shed's door and paused on either side. Jett held the gun in two hands as Robbie pushed the door aside with his free hand. As soon as there was enough room, Jett jumped into the room and rolled on his shoulder. He had the gun up in no time, but nobody was there.

Robbie joined Jett as he was putting the gun on a bench. He looked around and noticed the busted phone on the ground and picked it up. Dead. He looked at Jett. "What the hell?"

Jett scratched his neck and looked around the shed, a scowl on his face. He said nothing as he exited the shed and went over for a closer look at the car. The keys were still in the ignition, and he saw a rental car invoice on the floor of the passenger's side. His nose flared as his brain connected the dots. "Shit!"

Robbie looked up in alarm. "What? What's happened?"

Jett's lip curled. "What were the bounty hunter details you got about the car?"

Robbie looked a bit nonplussed momentarily, but eventually, he caught up. "Shit!" He pulled out his phone and scrolled through the posts until he found what he sought. "White Hyundai rental…" His face blanched. "Oh shit!"

Jett looked at Robbie and his phone, then back to Robbie before shaking his head. "Have you got your location switched on?"

Robbie nodded. "Of course!" He winced as he finally really understood that they'd been played. "Oh shit!"

Jett shrugged and gave a phlegmy cough. "Fuck it! Let's get a beer!"

Chapter 38

As the situation on Earth deteriorated, the StepWorld Council continued to look for new ways to set up safe routes for migration centres. There were various ideas, but they were one-off solutions for a specific location. They needed a standard model they could replicate. Otherwise, they wouldn't be able to leverage the AIs, and volumes would slump. The Council had passed the message down to the entire StepWorld population via their People's Representatives. The question was simple: How can we have safe transit hubs for migration?

Lauren McCann had been working closely with the Alliance countries to help make their migration as efficient as possible. Since the bombings at Frankfurt and Uvira, the trouble has been twofold. They had to reduce the threat to hubs in Peace Alliance countries and stabilise the ad hoc approach they used in UN countries.

An idea took root while she was talking with Pham Hoang from Vietnam. He mentioned he'd miss his annual visit to the Son Doon Cave in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. He had said it was a magical place with huge caverns and miles of caves, and he thought it might be one of the largest cave systems discovered on Earth.

Lauren didn't know anything about caves, but the idea grew as she researched and discovered many caves all over Earth; some large systems were located in strategic areas that, she thought, had potential for use as a covert migration path. Her idea was to use the caves as safe local marshalling areas where the migration process could be kicked off. The key to her plan was to keep the first Step short so the traveller could initiate a call to PacMan, receive a PTV and be Stepped to the nearest transit loop located deep in a cave. From there, the travellers could be brought up to speed on StepWorld culture and given the chance to pull out if they didn't like the idea. By holding the induction process in the caves, the travellers and pathway were protected from outside interference and those who opted not to leave wouldn't know where the cave was when they were returned to their starting point.

At the time, the USA was the most challenging place to work. People were actively aggressive to the Alliance, and vigilante groups roamed the streets looking for 'woke' Alliance lovers to pass on for bounties or, worse, punish themselves.

She chose the more extensive cave systems as they would provide more security alternatives if discovered. Mammoth near Brownsville, Kentucky, could handle the east, while Jewel in South Dakota and Lechuguilla in New Mexico’s Carlsbad Caverns National Park could handle the central areas and west. For Europe, she chose Optymistychna in the west of Ukraine and Lamprechtsofen in Austria. Asia was already well represented by Vietnam and Australia, but she also elected to use Gua Air Jernih Cave in Gunung Mulu National Park, Malaysia. China posed less of a problem because the internal dialogue didn't support the formation of vigilantes, so there was less immediate pressure on those who wanted to leave. Those who migrated did so through Mongolia and Vietnam.

She took the idea to the Council and followed up with Codie and Stan Moreton the next day.

Codie nodded enthusiastically. "You may want to join us in security sometime, Lauren. You've thought this through like a professional!"

Lauren smiled and shrugged. "Just thought we needed space and privacy for people to be safe. The caves struck me as a perfect opportunity."

***

Elliot had a last look at the instructions and ripped the battery out of his phone. A few minutes previously, he'd driven into the gas station and asked his wife, Hannah, to fill the tank and stay with the car until he returned. His youngest, Lottie, asked to go to the toilet, but he'd been short with her. "Wait!"

He went to leave the restroom and nearly collided with a youngish blonde man as he shouldered in through the door. He was big, eating a burger with one hand and opening his pants with the other. Elliot grunted as the big bozo pushed past but got out into the corridor without mishap.

Hannah saw him leave the station and walked quickly to meet him. "The kids need a toilet break. I think we should take the time while we can."

Elliot nodded. "You take the girls." He looked at his son, Zane, who was twelve years old and going on sixteen already. "You can go when I pay the bill. Okay?"

Zane frowned. He was a serious kid and knew they were heading into the unknown to try and have a better life. "No problem, Dad."

Elliot and Zane were silent as the minutes ticked by. The closer they got to the exit point, the more Elliot worried. He worried about the police, the new sensor drones that scanned phones and social media, and, worst of all, the bounty hunters. Even though he'd been careful, he couldn't know if his access to PacMan had been detected. If it had, bounty hunters could be on their way.

When he saw Hannah and the two kids emerge from the building, Elliot breathed a sigh of relief. They bundled back into their seats as Elliot and Zane exited. Elliot turned to his wife. "Keep calm, we're almost there. Another half hour."

Hannah nodded, and Keeva, two years older than Lottie, took her sister's hand and squeezed it.

Elliot pointed to the toilets at the far end of the room as he approached the counter to pay his bill. As he waited for the amount to come up on the payment machine, a screech of tyres sounded as a four-by-four took the driveway turn too fast. Hooting and laughter followed as the vehicle passed the pumps and entered the parking area by the store. Elliot swallowed nervously as he watched four men and a woman exit the car and immediately look at their phones and around the area.

'Bounty hunters.' thought Elliot. He looked nervously at the register and saw it was ready for him to swipe his card. He ensured the transaction went through okay and declined the receipt when asked. He looked at the activity out the window, then looked back at the cashier and smiled. "Thanks for your help."

The cashier nodded, his attention on the next customer.

Elliot looked towards the toilets and saw Zane walking towards him. He caught Zane's eyes and pushed his eyes in the direction of the people who had exited the four-by-four. When Zane looked back, he nodded and took a deep breath before they both left the building and headed to their car.

The woman saw them walking and tapped one of the men on the arm. She nodded towards them and raised her eyebrows in question. The Man did something on his phone and shook his head. They gave the pair one last look as they left in their car.

"That was tense!" said Elliot when they were on their way.

"Do you think they were bounty hunters?" asked Hannah, a worried frown pulling down the sides of her mouth.

Elliot shrugged and nodded. "I can't say for sure, but I think so." He looked at the kids in the rearview mirror. "We're going to be okay, don't worry." He gave a slight nod. "But we're going to have to be very careful. Okay?"

The kids all nodded and agreed even though they didn't know what it meant.

The short drive to the strip mall was uneventful. The Vietnamese restaurant was towards the far end and down a short service road. When he saw it, he turned down the side access and parked opposite the restaurant entry in what looked like a loading dock. It was late afternoon, and there was a reasonable amount of activity, with people walking to and from their cars and stores. The Vietnamese restaurant was quiet and appeared empty.

Elliot turned to Hannah, his eyes hopeful that their stressful journey was nearing an end. "Wait here."

Hannah nodded. "Be careful, Ell."

He grunted and gave his kids a small smile as he turned towards the restaurant. The door displayed a Closed sign, but he knocked twice, paused, and knocked twice more before pushing the door open. Inside, at the far end, was the kitchen and service area. It was quiet and dark. A dozen square tables were pushed to the sides of the floor with chairs stacked alongside them, leaving a large empty area free.

Elliot looked around but couldn't sense anyone in the building. His instructions were simple. "Once inside, with your family, say 'PacMan, we're ready.'"

He opened the door and checked the area, which was still quiet. Holding the door open, he waved for his family to join him and ushered them inside as they arrived. He locked the car by remote and was about to toss the keys when he had a change of heart. He unlocked the car before throwing the keys in a nearby bin. He rechecked the area and was happy they had arrived unnoticed.

Closing the door, Elliot smiled and gathered his family to one side of the floor. "Ready?"

His family nodded and smiled tensely while Hannah squeezed her arm around his waist.

Elliot's stress was replaced with determination. He didn't know who he was talking to but stood tall, chin up, and clearly said, "PacMan, we're ready."

Within a second, what looked like a box appeared in the free area of the floor. A door opened outwards, and a voice spoke. "Welcome, Elliot, Hannah, and family. Please enter the transport vehicle."

Elliot looked at the box. "I'll go first, then the kids, then you, Hannah." With that, he stepped into the PTV and moved to a seat further in. He was followed by the girls, Zane and Hannah.

As Hannah sat, the door closed with a solid thunk, and the voice said, "Stepping in 5… 4… 3… 2… 1…"

A few seconds later, it said, "Return in 5… 4… 3… 2… 1…" There was a squelch of static, and the voice spoke again. "You have arrived at StepWorld transit station East. Once you leave the transport vehicle, move to the area to your left marked in yellow, and you will be guided along the pathway."

The family exited the vehicle and moved to the area as asked. There was a table and chairs, along with some food and drinks. When they were safely away from the PTV, the door swung closed, and the vehicle disappeared.

Zane looked at his father, eyes agog. "That was a Step ride? Wow!"

Before Elliot could answer, a young Asian woman walked up to the small group, smiling calmly. "Hi there, I'm Lily." She looked the family over and concentrated on the kids. "You must be the Pipers, Yes?"

She kept her eyes on the children, a small smile playing at the edges of her mouth, until Lottie nodded, "Yes."

Lily smiled at Lottie and bowed. "Thank you. It is a pleasure to meet you all." She looked up to Elliot and Hannah. "I am glad you have made it this far. It is not so easy now as it was." She turned towards a temporary building some thirty metres away. "If you'll follow me, we have an induction session about to start." She looked back to the kids. "Watch your step. Some of the ground is uneven here."

It was only at that point that the Piper family noticed the ground was compacted earth. Looking further, they saw that the walls and roof were rock and earth - they were in a cave!

Zane opened his mouth, but his mother held up a hand. "Later."

The induction consisted of a brief description of what the StepWorlds were and what their customs were. Most people on Earth had more detailed information available; whether they believed it was true or not was a matter of what group you belonged to. Those who made the trip to the transit point were ready to go but were asked questions anyway. "The StepWorlds has two key values. Respect all life and Free Will." The presenter looked at the people gathered before him. "We have no money, no stores, no TV or movies. No jobs, no economies." He smiled. "No politicians or lobby groups." He looked around and crooked his mouth. "Sounds wonderful, I know. But it means you have to decide how you'd like to spend your time without all that 'stuff' you're used to." He held out his hands in welcome. "Those who know they want to migrate, make your way over to that bus. If you're unsure, you can wait for a minute, and we'll answer any questions you may have. If you decide not to go, we will endeavour to Step you back to where you came from."

He watched as the whole group made their way to the bus and smiled.

Chapter 39

Chuck Morrisel walked up a quiet track to a forested area overlooking the community playing area. It was a long way from the kids, but he felt comfortable watching from the trees. As he neared the top, he heard someone approaching. Not wanting to be seen, he quickly ducked behind a thick bush and waited for the person to pass by. His eyes widened when he recognised the girl. She had recently arrived from Laos and was beautiful, young, and vulnerable.

He didn't think as he stood. He took a step and wrapped an arm around the girl's chest, pinning her to his front. His left hand reached to stifle any screams, but before it got anywhere near the girl's face, his legs erupted with the most excruciating pain he'd ever felt. It was so bad that it knocked the wind out of him, and he fell to the ground at her feet, squirming with the pain, eyes clenched shut.

The girl hadn't had time to think about what had happened; before she could react to help the man, a single-person, open-layout transport vehicle appeared and wholly contained the man. As she watched, the vehicle and the man it now contained disappeared.

***

Codie slammed the report on the table. "That's over a hundred, mostly men, that we've picked up in just two days! We need to have a policy. What are we going to do with these people?"

Dennis sat back and eyeballed Codie. "I know, Codie, I know." He closed his eyes and rubbed them with his palms. The soreness indicated the continual problems that the mass migration was throwing up. He opened his eyes and sighed. "Of all the problems we have, this sex-related crime wave is the worst and most unexpected." He shook his head. "There's nothing for it; we'll have to devise a policy beyond sending offenders to Pip."

Codie nodded and frowned. "Who would have thought that you came to a place where you could have anything you wanted so long as you respected life and free will? You still get characters who forget about the free will part." He shook his head. "At the rate we're going, Pip will be full in a month; it's as big as bloody Tasmania!"

Dennis smiled wanly and gave a weak chuckle.

Codie cocked his head and looked at him. "You okay?"

Dennis gave a weary laugh. "Just tired, Codie. I'm not sure I was cut out to be on the Council, let alone holding the Chair."

Codie shrugged and grinned. "Problem with being popular and caring, mate."

Dennis narrowed his eyes. "You better be careful, Codie. I may just spread the word that you are good at this."

Codie chuckled. "No chance of that, Dennis, my old friend. I haven't got time to play management!"

Dennis shook his head. "I'll call the Council for a meeting tomorrow morning." He looked at Codie. "I'll want you there." He ignored Codie's raised eyebrows. "And Mary Harding, I think." He saw Codie nod in agreement. "And I want James there as well." He looked at Codie. "Anyone else you can think of?"

Codie pursed his lips in thought before slowly shaking his head. "Nope. I think they and the Council should cover what we need." He looked at Dennis appreciatively. "Thanks, Dennis. You may be tired, but we need you and the others. Keeps us honest."

***

The Council meeting was animated.

James was still coming to terms with the fact they had people breaking the law. "There is only one law." He raised his hands in front of him. "Respect for all life!" He shrugged. "What's so bloody difficult?" He looked around the Council and sat heavily, hand to brow.

Alice stood. "It's not so simple for some of the people we're getting. They've had different lives, pressures, upbringings. They have societal scars, if you will, behaviours they've learned to survive."

James looked up angrily. "Attempted rape is not acceptable!"

Dennis looked at James with a scowl. "James, please exercise some restraint. This is a StepWorld Council meeting, not some argument in a pub!"

James ducked his head. "Sorry." He looked across to Alice. "My apologies, Alice, I just can't get my head around it!"

Alice smiled and nodded, accepting James' apology. "I know, James. It's difficult for us all to understand… let alone solve."

Nuala de Silva raised a hand. "I may have an idea." Her brow creased as she considered her words. "I've come across many people and motivations in my time in human resources. Generally, people will fit into a culture without too many issues." She looked at her fellow councillors and shook her head. "Sometimes, it just doesn't work. The reasons can be varied, but, in my experience, the most difficult to work with are psychological." She frowned. "Things like narcissism, compulsive behaviours, obsessions. They often stem from experiences that the individual doesn't even remember." She looked across to James and shrugged. "I'm not a statistician, but a certain percentage of the populations we have immigrating will have mental health issues that need psychiatric help." Her brows came together. "I think we should help those people where we can." She narrowed her eyes as she continued. "For those who are just mean?" She clenched her jaw. "Send them back to Earth!"

Nuala's last statement was received with stunned silence. Harry Barnes was the first to recover. "Back to Earth… what a great idea." He smiled. "There's no need to keep StepWorlds a secret; they already know about us." He grinned. "It would probably help others get the message if people start returning and talking about their experience."

James shook his head. "No. Not if they end up coming back! It has to be one strike, and you're out." He looked across to Ken Hayden, Councillor and security team member.

Ken smiled and raised his head. "Codie and I talked this through some time back as the NewHope program kicked in. Interestingly, we had no significant issues with them or, later, the refugee resettlement." He looked around the table and continued. "The problems have only started with the appearance of 'normal' people who are better educated and better off." His eyes and brows rose, and he gave a short smile. "I suspect the problem's a function of Earth civilisation. The quest for wealth, power and status." He nodded his head slowly. "I agree with both Nuala and James. If someone has some issue that can be helped, then, by all means, let's do what we can." He nodded to James. "If someone is plain bad or can't be helped. Tag them and send them back to Earth."

Dennis cocked his head in question. "Tag them?"

Ken smiled. "Insert a tracking device so we pick them up if they try to get back. We have to be able to pick them up and return them if necessary."

Dennis frowned at the idea but acknowledged the necessity. He looked around the table and, seeing no disagreement, shrugged. "We'd better think about how we handle things then. We have close to two hundred people on Pip Island at the moment. After Nuala's insights, I think most need time and psychiatric help. Do we have that capability as yet? If not, we need to get onto it immediately." He glanced at Codie and raised an eyebrow. "Then there's the Tag and Release back to Earth for those who can't handle the StepWorld's restrictive regime." He shook his head sadly as he said the last and turned his attention to Alice and Jerry. "Alice, can we get some priorities around the mental health aspects and appropriateness of Pip Island for those people?"

Alice smiled and nodded. "ConMan's onto it, Dennis."

Dennis smiled and turned his attention to Jerry. "Jerry, thoughts on an AI to specialise in handling breaches of Respect?" He rubbed his eyes. "I expect MilSec may be a little 'uncompromising' when dealing with some of these cases."

Jerry considered the question and shook his head. "No. It's best to have the one AI monitoring the broad security situation." He gave a small smile. "I will, however, add algorithms to consider the psychiatric aspect so an initial determination can be made whether to use Pip for therapy or send them back to Earth as a tag and release."

Dennis nodded and looked around the council. "Does anybody have anything to add?" He waited a moment, but the council and guests remained silent. "Done then! I will have the Constitution amended concerning Enforcement. He displayed a copy of the Constitution on a screen and altered the last line to read: 'If an individual or group of individuals intentionally breach Respect for Life or Free Will, then, if they are not deemed intractable, they will be relocated to the island known as 'Pip' for assessment and treatment. Otherwise, they will be implanted with a tracking tag and returned to their origin. People who are returned to Earth will not be permitted to return to the StepWorlds.'

Dennis gave them time to read the text. "A show of hands to accept the alteration."

All the councillors agreed.

Dennis smiled. "Done. And, thank you all."

***

Ken Hayden joined Stan Moreton in the Defence Centre after MilSec notified the Council that a second X-37B was approaching the solar collector.

Ken leaned forward as he watched the blip on the screen get closer. "What are they up to? They know we can stop it and are not stupid enough to waste another X-37B."

Stan shook his head, eyes pinched in worry. "They've not responded to our comms, and it's coming in at best speed according to MilSec's estimates."

Ken's lips thinned into a slight frown. "They've got a plan of some sort. What weaponry do they have that can hit the collector from range?"

Stan shook his head. "Nothing that we can't handle." His eyes narrowed. "MilSec, is there anything on that vessel that has the potential to be used as a weapon?"

Despite the various algorithms and adaptations being reviewed, MilSec's active parameter display showed a constant sea of green. As input came from the other AIs, algorithmic data fluctuated but returned to green. The process was finished when a final data set arrived from SynCon. As that input was processed, a few data points changed colour from green to lime, yellow and pink.

Stan's eyes bunched, and his jaw tensed as he watched the numbers shade into the red of imminent danger.

Before MilSec offered an analysis, Stan shouted, "MilSec, emergency reroute that vessel."

"Spanner inserted…"

Before MilSec could continue the procedure, the tracking blip and the solar collector disappeared from the main screen.

Stan looked at Ken. "Shit!" He looked in the air. "MilSec, what happened?"

"Vessel self-destructed as a result of spanner insertion. Self-destruction achieved through ignition of vessel's nuclear power plant."

Ken looked shocked. "It nuked us?" He shook his head, horrified. "Those stupid, ignorant fools!"

Stan's eyes hardened. "The backup collector at Lagrange 4 has taken up the load." He checked the data and nodded. "It wasn't the blast that did the damage; it was the radiation. It seems to have fried the collectors and the generation. It's not salvageable."

Ken lifted his head, and his gaze darkened. "The sooner we're done with this place, the better!"

Chapter 40

The President and Prime Minister of Mongolia looked out over the steppe from the vantage of the hills outside Arvaikheer. They smiled as dust rose in a small cloud behind a herd of running horses and smiled.

Selina Crossing was with them and slightly to one side to give them space. Selina had befriended a group of Mongolian horsemen who were keen to see the Karma horse and how it compared to the revered Mongolian horse that had served them so well over the centuries. Selina smiled at the memory on their faces when they got their first look. The Karma beast looked more like a camel without a hump, but their broad back offered a good seat, and their gait was smooth due to their longer legs. The riders had been suspicious but soon got to know the animal after a few tries and tumbles and started planning a new festival to celebrate their new lives. Selina spent time with the group as they explored some other worlds and the vast plains on offer. She grew to respect the Mongolian's strength, respect for the land and horse and their optimistic nature. She also noticed their initial melancholy at what was left behind and their steely determination to meet the future with strong hearts.

Selina's thoughts returned as the President and Prime Minister turned to each other. They faced each other and held their arms out. The President placed his hands on the Prime Minister's upper arms while the Prime Minister placed his under the President’s elbows. They looked each other in the eye before quietly disengaging and stepping away from each other as they turned again to the steppe. The two men placed their hands before them and bowed slightly before standing tall again. The President smiled and spoke some words Selina didn't understand then. She later discovered he'd said, "May you run with grace and spirit on this land that is yours."

The two men turned to Selina and gave her another slight bow. The Prime Minister smiled. "We are ready."

***

The destruction of the solar collector saw a massive acceleration of the migrations out of Peace Alliance countries. As smaller nations from Oceania were emptied, their BusTVs were redirected to those with larger populations. At the same time, ConMan prioritised the production of lighter, purpose-built Step Vehicles to add to capacity. Poland, Argentina and Sudan completed their migration within days of the attack. Italy and South Africa followed soon after. This left Germany, Vietnam, DRC, Philippines, and Ethiopia with a combined total of under one hundred million people looking to go, which, considering that a staggering billion-plus people had already moved, was relatively minor.

While the 'normal' migrations were proceeding in a reasonably controlled manner, the underground was another thing entirely. The caves were frantic. Many people in the anti-peace countries were horrified at their leadership's response to the offer of peace and the extreme thinking that led to hunting 'peaceniks' for bounties. To the horror of the various social media app technical teams, all attempts to shut down any activity with #pacman failed. They suspected an external agency had inserted a virus, but nothing had ever been found on their servers. As a result, PacMan continued its work, and more work came its way, requiring an additional Qube to be Stepped in to support throughput.

As the illegal migrations went deeper underground, bounty hunters seized the opportunity to profit. They established a network of informants to gain early knowledge of 'peaceniks' and apprehend them before they could escape. The Government, in a bid to regain control, offered rewards for information. However, this initiative quickly became a breeding ground for deception, revenge, and greed, further fueling the chaos.

As social order dissolved, urgency increased. PacMan adjusted its operations and incorporated a more extensive fleet of lighter and smaller Transport Vehicles to Step into the nearest operational Cave system. This allowed people to Step out of their homes and avoid the risk of getting to a set location. As the volume of these Steps increased, it put pressure on the processing within the caves—temporary accommodation, sustenance, induction and queues—lots of queues.

The main transit loops were set up in the larger caverns and ran nonstop to evacuate people from all walks of life. The cave's tunnels and smaller caverns were filled with people who put on a brave face despite the difficulties they faced. At least they had food, water and sanitation, but many would have put up with much deprivation simply to get off Earth.

***

Following the destruction of the solar collector, America's President Searle was resolute in his success. "I don't care if they had a backup. We've shown the rest of the world that good old ingenuity still carries the flag high here on Earth." He leaned forward, his gaze piercing. "Let the little peaceniks run, we'll catch up with them later." He growled as he continued. "But not our people! I've had enough of these peace runners hitting rabbit holes to escape America." He locked eyes with his Secretary of Defence. "I want those caves shut down! Immediately!"

Isaac Hyland's jaw cracked as his smile formed. "It will be a pleasure, Mr. President. We have all the locations marked and troops ready to move."

The order to move out was the moment Sergeant Johnny Donald had been waiting for. "Load up! C'mon you slackers, we've got a job to do." The wait was over. He watched with a steely gaze as his section boarded the truck for the hour-long drive to the Lechuguilla cave system's northeastern entrance. He smiled to himself, his heart pounding with the knowledge that similar squads were moving into place in South Dakota.

The section formed up to one side on arrival while the engineers unloaded the smoker. Sergeant Donald caught the eye of one of his Corporals. "Okay, Reegan, take your squad and check up on the pitch head."

Reegan smiled and nodded. "Yes, Sarge." He turned with his men and headed into the cave's main entry. They turned on the lights on their helmets to supplement flashlights. The cave's power systems had been cut weeks before when it became known that the peaceniks were using caves as a secret passage to the StepWorlds. It hadn't stopped them because the activities in the tunnel chambers still showed on various sensors. Now was the time to evict the pests.

Reegan chinned his section comms. "Let's not have any mishaps. Take it slow and careful. If you happen to see someone who shouldn't be here, don't shoot them. We'll escort them out and let the Sarge sort it. Okay?"

While Reegan checked the accessible passages, similar teams were going through the same exercise at any of the known entry points. This was the Lechuguilla Cave, and there were not many entries for people, but there were smaller pockets that could be used for smokers. In some areas, drill holes had been made to help spread the smoke.

Once the area was clear and the smoke machine in place, Sergeant Donald notified his Lieutenant.

"Thanks, Sergeant. Will advise."

"Sir."

Ten minutes later, the order came. "All sections - start your smoke."

Lieutenant Butler checked his watch and called over his drone operator. "Give it twenty minutes, then get the heat sensors up again. I want to be sure the peaceniks have gone."

The Corporal grinned. "Yes, Sir!"

The plan wasn't to catch the peaceniks but to make the caves as challenging to use as possible. If they could drive the illegal migration path into the open, then they'd have a better chance of stopping them altogether. They expected to be successful in all except Mammoth, in Kentucky—it was just too big a volume to fill. Mammoth would be cleared manually, and Butler was hoping that he and his team would make it in time to join the operation.

His reverie was broken by a shout from one of the perimeter guards. "Runner!"

"Drone up, Corporal. Don't let them get away!"

He heard a "Sir." as he caught up to his chase team. "Come on, you lot! I can run faster!"

The drone operator fed him information as they went where the runners had been spotted.

One of his men pointed. "Smoke, Sir."

Butler smiled. The peaceniks had found a way out but wouldn't get far. "You got that smoke, Corporal?"

"Coming up on it now, Sir."

As they approached the half-hidden entrance to the cave, the sound of the drone hovering above them was evident. Lieutenant Butler looked up at the drone. "Get that search pattern going, Corporal."

The drone zipped off twenty-five yards and began a series of overlapping runs that would expand until the runners were found. Butler checked the terrain. "They'll probably head downhill rather than up. Let's spread out and take it slow. If you see any tracks, let me know."

His men fanned out and started to descend the slope, carefully looking at the ground and grass for signs of someone being there previously.

***

Above the exit, a man and woman crouched as close to the smoke as possible. They remained still when the troops arrived and watched the search drone move off in a generally downhill direction. The man shook his head. "That was too close for comfort. Thank goodness the smoke masked our heat signatures enough to fool them." He nodded appreciatively. "That was a great idea."

Despite the positive comment, the woman looked strained. "Daniel, what can we do? They'll find us."

Daniel shook his head and frowned. "I don't know, Lana; I've not been up against the government before." He looked at the woman. She was close to her mid-forties, and they'd just me a few hours previously when they were in the queue to go to the StepWorlds. He'd seen the smoke billowing in and had panicked as memories overwhelmed him. Lana had the courage, or just the nature, to chase after him. She found him on the ground, half conscious from whacking the top of his head on an uneven area in the tunnel's roof. He put his hand to his head now and winced. He'd panicked as the smoke brought back memories of his childhood home burning to the ground and taking his parents and younger brother with it. His screams still woke him on some nights. He pushed the memories to the back of his mind and focused on the present. He reached into his pocket and checked his phone. The screen was cracked, but it still worked.

Lana reached across to stop him from using it. "What if they can see it? They'll come right for us."

Daniel looked at Lana and shook his head. "What else can we do? If we do nothing, they'll eventually find us. If we run, they'll find us." He sighed. "Let's trust in PacMan and see if we can get out of this."

Lana paused momentarily before letting go of Daniel's arm and nodding, lips tight and eyes hooded.

Daniel pulled up his chat, and, to his surprise, a message was waiting. "There is a flat, clear area twenty metres up the hill. It is not large. When you get there, move to the side and say, "PacMan, we're ready."

Daniel held the screen up to Lana so she could read the message. Her eyes narrowed in understanding. "Let's go."

They heard a shout fifty yards down the slope as they stood: "Stop, or we'll fire."

Daniel took Lana's hand and lifted his head. "Let's do this!"

With that, they bent low and started running from cover to cover; their path was erratic enough to make it difficult for the soldiers. Daniel didn't think they would shoot them, but he'd heard of deaths in other states.

They ran like the devil was behind them. Daniel slipped and fell, and Lana picked him up and urged him on. Only to slip and fall herself. Daniel put his hand under her armpit and heaved her onto her feet and up the slope. The run seemed to take forever but, in actuality, was probably less than a minute.

They pushed up a steeper incline and fell onto what could only be the flat area they were after. With breath pulsing in and out so hard that he could hardly talk, Daniel finally puffed out, "PacMan, we're ready."

An instant later, a crate appeared, and a hatch swung open for them. Daniel pushed Lana in and followed as the hatch swung shut, chasing his heels.

***

Lieutenant Butler saw the pair as they fell over a rise and disappeared. "We've got them, men. Push hard!" When they topped the rise, the pair had disappeared. He looked towards the rocks on the other side of a five-by-five-yard clearing. "Keep after them, they can't be far off." He looked in the air. "Where's that drone, Corporal? We need it here now!"

"Coming, Sir."

"Get it up and find where these two are. They're civilians, for god's sake!" His brows furrowed in frustration. "Find them!"

Despite their best efforts, the peacenik runners eluded the soldiers. Butler wasn't too concerned as the cave was declared clear in time for him and his team to join the push on Mammoth in Kentucky. That was one engagement where the limits were off, and they were going in hot.

Chapter 41

Despite the logistics and ongoing harassment from UN countries, the Alliance migrated most of their populations and left Earth for the StepWorlds. Those people who remained were an enigma. Some feared change, while others were stubborn in their belief that the StepWorlds and peace were a hoax. However, some eighty-five per cent of those populations left Earth. Most of those who remained wandered around unused city infrastructure to scrape up enough to live while other more self-reliant people kept a low profile on farms and prebuilt bunkers. For those people, time was short; the UN countries were fully aware of the situation and would soon be bickering amongst each other about who got what abandoned lands. America lost no time moving into Canada and bolstering its presence in the Philippines to deter other interests in the archipelago. China also pushed north into Mongolia and south into Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia before coming up against Indonesia, which had made the hop to Malaysia 'as a defensive precaution' while a smaller force had pushed into the freshly vacated New Guinea. India quickly incorporated Sri Lanka within its borders as Pakistan moved northeast into Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. Interestingly, the two, usually snarky neighbours, managed all their military manoeuvres without friction.

Europe went into meltdown as Russia reacquired Ukraine and Poland. Russia may have tried for more of Western Europe but didn't have the resources to take and hold the territory. The Russian President was assured by his advisors that most of Europe to the south would end up dry and unproductive through climate change. Germany's emptying left a large hole filled by a combined force from France and the United Kingdom. They said they had to move fast to protect the rest of Europe from Russia, but the reality was that they wanted the land and industry for themselves and ended up moving south into Austria as well. The United Kingdom picked up the Netherlands on its way into Germany.

Most of South America's population chose to remain on Earth, except for Argentina, Ecuador, and Uruguay. Colombia wasted no time in seizing the opportunity to expand into Ecuador as soon as it was confirmed empty. Argentina and Uruguay, already under the watchful eyes of the United Kingdom and America, were left relatively untouched. Chile, however, saw an opportunity and seized it, pushing through Cordoba and then across to Buenos Aires and Montevideo. Once they had established a political border, they continued their expansion, pushing further south to occupy the continent's southern tip.

During all these machinations, there was only one conflict. China and America both wanted Australia's resources. Although there were near misses in the air and on the oceans, full-blown conflict was initially avoided through high-level diplomacy and, finally, when the two nations' leaders met face to face in Darwin. The deal they struck ceded Western Australia, the Northern Territory, and New Zealand's South Island to China. The United States got the eastern states, including South Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand's North Island. China and America secretly harboured resentment at the final solution but lived with it for the time being.

***

Jerry frowned as his presentation to the StepWorld Council came to an end. "The net effect of the UN's social media measures is that PacMan is increasingly unable to source safe solutions for those people who need them." He looked up. "Additionally, with the USA's satellite coverage, the remaining caves we are actively using and those in other countries will soon be forced to shut down as has happened in Ukraine and Austria." Jerry's lips tightened before he let out a breath. "I believe the underground migration has come to an end. It is time to cut all further links with Earth."

The Council had been grappling with this reality for weeks, knowing that the time to abandon Earth was drawing near. Dennis, his eyes filled with a mix of sorrow and determination, nodded. "What about those who can't escape? Is there anything we can do for them?"

Jerry's expression turned grave. "It's a highly precarious plan. We'd have to leave PacMan's Qube somewhere in the system, enabling it to communicate via the internet or cellular network." He locked eyes with Dennis. "But by accessing communications, even in a passive manner, the security measures they employ could detect its presence and trace the signal back to the Qube." He glanced at the Councillors. "We could attempt to confuse the issue by moving the Qube between Lagrange points, but there's no guarantee they won't eventually locate and destroy it."

Ken Hayden raised a finger. "Is there any chance they could access the Qube's technology and learn from it?"

Jerry shook his head in the negative. "No. Even if they could get a Qubit, they'd never understand SynCon's design." He chuckled. "Hell, we've got no idea, and we've had SynCon telling us!"

Jerry shrugged. "Look, I commend the concern for those who haven't joined us and, despite the risk, agree with leaving a backdoor. I recommend we recover the extra Qube, as PacMan won't need the processing power. Set PacMan up with a random Step pattern that utilises the Lagrange points and other suitable locations in Earth's system." He frowned as he went over the idea. "We should maintain ICS links but only one way, from Earth to Karma. That way, we're not exposing ourselves, and PacMan can communicate with us if needed." He bit the inside of his lip. "PacMan must also go into standby mode for a few years. Hopefully, Earth's security will ease off if there's no threat." He gave a slight shrug. "We're still at risk of losing PacMan, but, in the end, it's hardware, and we may still help a few more people."

Dennis looked around the rest of the Councillors, and they nodded in agreement. "Very well. Let the General know that we're pulling the pin. Time to shut down the Mammoth operation and come home." He looked at Alice. "Alice, get a message to the resistance on Earth. Let them know that we'll be thinking of them, and we'll be in touch in the future when security allows." He tilted his head towards Jerry. "Should PacMan have a wake-up code if the resistance needs it?"

Jerry's mouth went down. He glanced at Ken before turning back to Dennis. "It can—but it's a risk. If the resistance is caught and forced to give up the code, it could destroy PacMan."

Dennis lifted his head, and his face soured. "None of this is simple." He paused. "I'd rather them have the code than not. It's already a risk, but they may need it." He sighed and turned to Jerry, raising an eyebrow in question.

Jerry nodded, and his mouth and jaw tightened. "It will be done."

Chapter 42

The woman screamed as her boyfriend backhanded her across the face. As she fell to the ground, her two-year-old cried out "Mama". She forced her eyes to open as the man stomped to the hall cupboard and tore open the drawer.

Pulling a gun, he pointed it at the woman and shouted. "You're a traitor." His lips pulled back in a snarl, and his eyes gleamed with surprise and pleasure. He pulled the trigger, but nothing happened. The safety was on.

While he tried to work out how to get the safety off, the woman struggled to her feet and picked up the child. She stumbled to the back door and pushed on the bar to open the way into the garden. She'd moved towards the top step when the gun fired. She and the child yelled as she lost her footing and fell. She had no idea where the bullet had gone, and as she fell, she turned her back to the ground so she could protect her child. What she saw shocked her. Her supposed 'man' had the gun pointed at her and was trying to slow down his adrenaline enough to shoot at her again.

She closed her eyes and clearly said. "Help us, PacMan." Her teeth rattled as her back took the force of the fall, and her child's head bounced on her chin. Tasting blood, she knew it was the end.

Her eyes opened as she acknowledged defeat; She was determined to look her killer in the eye as he shot her. He had the gun in a two-handed grip and mouthed "Goodbye" before aiming.

The woman's vision suddenly lost focus. She didn't understand what happened. If she'd been shot, why didn't it hurt? Was she dead already? She felt the child squirm in her grip and loosened her hug slightly as she tried to readjust her focus. It wasn't possible. There was no light. Reaching down a trembling arm, she tried to find the stairs or grass beneath her. Her mind couldn't register what her hand touched. It felt like a strange-feeling carpet. Her face crumpled as her mind slowly stopped its rickety jumping over possibilities. "PacMan?"

A disembodied voice came out of nowhere. "Please wait."

She jumped slightly, and her child yelped at the sudden motion. The woman passed out, then, as the tension left her body. The last thing she said before slipping into unconsciousness came through a sad smile. "PacMan!"

***

General Mac Hancock sat back into the canvas chair he'd grabbed on the way to the Command Centre. "What's the news, Major?"

"Not good, Sir. MilSec can't handle all the ground troops moving through the tunnels." He checked a data screen. "Best estimates have at least three-quarters of their force getting through to the transit loop." His face turned grim. "We have an hour at the most to drop the roof."

Mac Hancock nodded. "Number still to leave?"

"Twenty-four thousand, six hundred and eight."

Mac sighed. "At five buses a minute, we're going to fall short." He looked at his second-in-command. "Any word on the additional Transit Vehicles?"

"They're on the way. Quinn's estimating they'll be integrated into the loop in ten minutes. There are four of them, so we may just scrape through."

"Excellent, Major." He rubbed his eyes as he ran through the logistics and timing. "Let's go with your Plan B, Stan. Start the demolition of the minor lead-in tunnels and divert stragglers onto the main cave route." He looked and caught the Major's eyes, mouth grim. "Who's drawn the short straw?"

Stan Moreton's eyes narrowed, and his face hardened. "Codie Maxwell, Sir."

Mac's eyes jumped, but Stan shook his head. "He insisted, Sir. He said we're all in this together, and it was his straw." Stan grinned. "If it's any help, Sir, he said he'd get out in time and see us on Shibui."

Mac Hancock chuckled and shrugged. "So be it. I hope the bastard gets out. He's got a good head on him - a survivor's head." He frowned. "Is he set up?"

Stan nodded. "He's been on station for twenty minutes."

Mac lifted his chin. "Give him my best for a good result and a clean exit."

Stan gave a slight nod, and then his face tightened. "We have to get the old Secretary-General out, Sir. Avani Campbell and Dennis Crossing are with him in the loop, and they keep deferring their departure." He shook his head in frustration. "We may have no pecking order in the StepWorlds, but they are a distraction here!"

Mac laughed and looked up as he forced himself out of his seat. "Same goes for me, eh Stan?" The Major was about to deny the charge, but the General held up a hand to stall him. "Alright, Major! I'll get them - and me - onto one of the next few departures." He held out a hand as he caught his friend's hand. "Good luck, Stan. Job well done."

Stan Moreton, determination in his eyes. "Thanks, Mac. See you on Karma."

Stan Moreton breathed a sigh of relief as the General went to gather the rest of the 'celebrities' and get them out of the way. He jogged to the main cave and watched the transit loop for a minute. The timing was perfect as lines of migrants waited for the empty BusTV to arrive and open its door. Sixty-four people entered the bus, the door closed, and it Stepped out. Within ten seconds of the Bus leaving, another appeared. As he watched, an additional four lines started to snake towards a vacant area that had been marked out. The extra transport vehicles must be close to joining the dance.

He cocked his head as a signal chirped in his ear. "Sir, the lesser entry tunnels have been collapsed. We'll blow the four secondary routes in two minutes."

"Roger that. Strays?"

"Accounted for, Sir. They are being re-routed to the main cave by Quinn or making their way on foot with guards."

"Number?"

"Less than a hundred on foot, Sir. Manageable."

"Thanks, Sergeant."

"Sir."

Stan looked down at the only remaining entry to the transit loop. It stretched some three hundred metres in an almost straight line, then did a dog-leg to the right. In the near elbow, Codie Maxwell waited with the detonator that would drop the roof of the dog leg to seal the cave from the outside completely. In coming up with the plan, it was decided not to assume that MilSec or any AIs would be available to do the job. One concern was power, but the primary consideration was trust in whoever took responsibility. Humans knew humanity and life. AIs did not.

While he'd gone over the plan, people continued streaming up the cave. As he watched, a woman and young child faltered and fell to the ground. Those around her stopped to help, but Stan could see they were out on their feet as well. He ran over to where the group was and nodded his encouragement. He picked up the child and held an arm for the woman to take as support if she needed it. As he held the child, he felt the dampness on his arm. He took a quick look and saw it was blood.

He looked at the woman. "Yours or the child's?" The woman's face fell. "His." She gathered her strength and gasped out. "His father. A graze."

Stan frowned but lifted his head in encouragement. "Let's get that seen to and then get you on a Bus."

The woman could hardly stand when they reached the transit loop, and Stan called for a medic. "See to the lad, will you?" He looked at the woman and saw her nod of thanks. Stan looked back to the medic. "When you're done, get Alice to see them onto one of the sooner rides. They need a breather."

The medic smiled at the woman and nodded. "No problem, Major Moreton."

Stan gave the woman an encouraging smile and returned up the cave, wending through the thinning but still busy stream of people heading towards the transit loop.

As he neared the corner, his comms channel brought news. It wasn't great.

"All units update. The Rear-End is relocating to Colon-One-Three. Repeat, Rear-End relocating to Colon-One-Three. All inbound migrants beyond Colon-One-Three should be advised that their path has been compromised. Repeat, your path is compromised. Split off and wait for another day. Good luck. Out."

Stan looked down the tunnel. It was a long way to Colon-one-three, but the orderly retreat had commenced. Now, it was a cat-and-mouse game to protect the migrants in the cave system as they made their way to the transit loop. No newcomers would be coming. He whispered into his comms. "MilSec, give me Codie."

Codie's voice came back to him. "Time's up, Stan! Get them out."

Stan smiled to himself. "Will do, Codie. Need anything?"

"Just get me out when you can if I don't make it through the fall."

Stan grinned, and he nodded slightly. "Will do Codie. Good luck, mate."

"You too, Stan." There was a pause. "Codie out."

Stan's place now was with the transit loop to make sure it rolled on as fast as possible. He knew he was redundant as the people looking after the loop were as competent as those defending the pathway to it. He sighed and tilted his head. They had a bloody good team.

Stan lent a hand as much as he could in getting people up to the Buses. The process worked, and the number of people waiting continued to shrink at a good clip until he heard shouts coming from down the tunnel. He looked up and saw perhaps two hundred civilians moving towards the loop and freedom as quickly as possible. Stan frowned in dismay, they still needed to pass these people through security, and that would take time. It was time they didn't have if Plan B failed.

He walked across to the security team. "This is not the time to ease off. If someone gets onto a Bus and they're armed, then it could prove disastrous for Karma, let alone the migrants." His eyes narrowed. "If I were in charge of Earth's forces, then this is the time I'd try to cause damage." His brow creased. "It's up to you to ensure that doesn't happen." The people staffing the security team were some of Major Moreton's best. They nodded understanding, and their faces firmed with determination. "Yes, Sir!"

Stan looked at each of the team and nodded before turning back to start down the tunnel again. He hadn't gone far when he heard a clatter of gunfire. It was distant, but it heralded Plan B. He stopped a hundred metres from the end. Migrants ran past, and he directed them to the transit loop and the waiting security personnel. Soon, the migrant flow stopped and apart from scattered gunfire around the corner, there was no movement.

A few minutes later, the rear defence group ran around the corner. Major Moreton counted the seconds after the last man had entered the final stretch and then opened his mouth.

The crash of the explosion was loud, but it was the compression wave as millions of tonnes of rock fell from the earth above and filled the dogleg that, caused unwanted damage. One thing was for sure: nobody would pass that blockage in a hurry. He couldn't see through the dust but gave silent thanks to Codie for the time he'd brought them as he got up from the ground and brushed himself off. Hearing a call for help, he returned to where his retreating troops were regrouping and helped them get moving. He looked towards the rock-filled cavern and couldn't see any sign of Codie. He shook his head as he recalled Codie's warning to get him out and whispered. "MilSec, signs of Codie?"

"Retrieval PTV unable to return. No Comms. Status unknown."

Stan's lips compressed as he considered the response. 'Unknown. Better than one of the alternatives!' He tilted his head. "MilSec, any recovery plans?"

"Recovery unlikely due to priorities."

"Quinn, Step in six crowbars to this location."

Six crowbars appeared in a neat pile a metre from Stan. He grinned and turned his comms to his team. "I need five able-bodied people to retrieve Codie Walker. Able-bodied only!" Within a few minutes, the sound of boots running came from up the tunnel. He smiled grimly. "Grab a crowbar and follow me."

While Stan and his soldiers dug through the fallen rock, the migration continued until there were just a few busloads left. In the end, plan B had done the trick. The attacking forces had pulled back to a wait-and-watch posture, giving the migration time.

As the last but one bus Stepped out of the cavern, Matt Wallace, one of Codie's original team, made his way to where Stan and his team were digging. He got the Major's attention and frowned. "How's it looking?"

Stan looked back. He shook his head and shrugged. "From Quinn's analysis, we should be about a metre from the PTV sent to pull him out." He chewed the inside of his lip. "There's a lot of dust and loose material in the mix, so we don't know how the air situation is, and we don't know how well the PTV withstood the fall. Something broke, though, or it wouldn't still be there."

Stan looked Matt in the eye. "We just can't know until we get there." He lifted his chin. "And we will get there! I promised Codie!"

Matt nodded and tried to smile, but it looked grim. "Thanks, Stan. I have to get back to Karma and will leave with the last Bus. There's an eight-person PTV in the parking lot for you, Codie and your team." He looked back, eyes narrow. "Make sure they're all on it!"

Stan's eyes mirrored Matt's. "Will do, Matt."

They shook hands, and Matt jogged back to mark the completion of the South Dakota migration.

It took another two hours of digging and cursing before they hit the outside of the small PTV sent for Codie. They tapped on the steel, but there was no response, so they continued to dig more of the rubble away.

Stan flicked on his comms. "Quinn, can we get a probe in there?"

"It is possible but is inadvisable as we do not know just where in the PTV Codie is, and there is not enough space to guarantee not causing injury."

Stan growled but put his frustration aside and rejoined the effort to gain access to the PTV's hatch, and, being a utility vehicle, its location wasn't conspicuous.

Despite the difficulties, they persevered and were eventually rewarded with the face of the PTV with the hatch. The manual release needed a few pulls to free the grit from the mechanism, but the hatch swung back a few inches before stopping. Stan pulled a flashlight from his belt and shone it around where he could see. "He's there!"

There was a round of cheers at the news, but it quickly quietened. They weren't out of the woods yet. Stan activated his comms again. "Quinn, can you get a probe in there now?"

A light suddenly bloomed inside the vehicle, accompanied by the telltale sound of a mini-drone's rotors.

"What's the situation, Quinn?"

"Codie is unconscious. His back is obstructing the hatch. Conducting physical scan." There was a tense half-minute as the scans were made, but they eventually ended. "Codie shows no sign of internal damage. It is apparent that the rock fall damaged the vehicle's top, impacting Codie's head and shoulder, and it also damaged forty per cent of the Step field generators."

Stan shrugged. "How do we get him out of there?"

"Reach in… another seven centimetres… slowly turn your wrist clockwise… there… now move your palm downwards."

Stan followed instructions and felt his palm come in contact with fabric.

"Take a firm grasp of Codie's ankle."

Stan did so.

"This leg is the lower leg in Codie's position. By pulling it towards you, Codie's body should be free to slip down the hatch and below the lip."

Stan started to pull the leg towards where his arm went through the hatch. It was awkward, and he strained harder to shift the weight. Slowly, the leg moved towards him, and suddenly, it slipped from his grip as Codie's body slumped down.

The hatch, free of the impediment, swung inwards and back.

Codie's face was scratched and pale, and there was dried blood in both ears. Stan stepped back, and two of his men reached in to extract Codie. "Let's get him to Karma."

When Codie was strapped into the eight-person PTV, Stan looked at his people and nodded. "Well done!" He smiled. "Quinn, take us home!"

THE END