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Author's Note: This is just a prologue to ease one into the events of the later chapters, a showcase of the empire at the time we start paying attention to them. Don't expect any sexual content YET, just a bit of exposition that will aid in what comes next.
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It was the best of times, at least by the opinion of the majority. Tasha's hand-computer blared with the heavy metal alarm, urging her awake at the fresh hour of 7 AM. "Five more minutes" she thought, though it was never five more minutes, it could be another two hours or however long it took for her boss to call her and tease the woman about her habit of sleeping in. She reached over to turn it off before rolling to face the ceiling, eyes open and strength gathering to face the day. Not like there was much to do for now.
With a groan, the girl would slip out of bed, looking for the TV remote to start the thing. The news was on, as it was every day. News segments made better sense in the section before most left to work, not when they were supposed to be already there. She'd put the volume high enough while walking over to her kitchen to get coffee on the way. The girl barely heard the intro, but the rest of it drew her attention.
"...protests by the New Wave Community are underway after their previous demands were unmet. As a reminder, the New Wave Community have set themselves apart from the hierarchy, citing that their way of life was to not be subjugated by the will of others."
"At the time, an understandable act of defiance, but here they come asking for the things this departure will not get them."
That was the usual commentator. Tasha liked this news provider for that specific aspect. On the left of the desk that was displayed on the wide TV was a woman in her thirties, prim and proper if offering just a hint of sensuality. On the right was a man in his forties, a sharp suit and a friendly expression. Kenna Rogers provided exposition while Trevor Greene offered comments that often aligned with what most had in mind. This viewer was currently only a listener, having the volume up as she heard it from the kitchen. The kettle was loaded with coffee grounds and sugar, milk was poured into her mug and the thing set to boil. The naked woman had quite the figure... as her job's conditioning assured. Like most, she slept naked. The sheets and covers were suited for her practice.
"Security is on standby during their blocking of a major road, expecting violence to erupt. Currently, the group has eleven instances of resorting to violence to enforce their way."
"The weakest form of authority. Did they learn nothing in school? Take it from me, they're gonna get violent today as well."
"Perhaps. The group started employing these protests after services such as water, electricity, garbage collection, and several others were halted for non-payment. The group cites that these should be human rights and they hope to have their voice heard."
"Nothing's a right if you have to force someone to do it. But we have some more pleasant news, though only from the perspective of some."
"Most have voted this news to be pleasing. A security officer was gunned down during an unwarranted arrest. Local footage shows how a man lodged a very verbal complaint about their neighbors, citing that their dogs were neither contained nor safe for the children in the immediate area. The security officer seemed to experience some sort of power trip as they reacted to the shouts of the man by drawing their weapon and ordering their surrender. Eight bystanders then proceeded to draw their own weapons and open fire at the officer. They did not survive long enough for emergency medical services."
"Another failure of the Security Force to screen people with no moral compass. I understand that some of his colleagues are screaming about this. But the section chief of security praised the civilian response. Called it a good challenge to keep them in line."
Coffee was done. Through a couple of filters, the grounds would be reduced to but five percent of their previous volume. She was starting to wake up a bit more, enough to have an opinion. The TV was in the other room and Tasha wondered if they showed the scene of the guy getting shot. Every once in a while, some security officer with a pathetic ego thought they could order people to do anything and they had to be proven wrong with deadly force. Most still remember last month's massacre when it seemed like an entire town's security shared that quality and got into a fight with their own people. Bless the Grand Rule of allowing everyone guns. She had three hanging right by the door. The pistol, the slow and precise rifle and the one more suited to more targets in a short span of time.
The woman walked to her living room with mug in hand, still not getting dressed, but a bit more focused. Her couch welcomed that uncovered ass. Too cold now to enjoy it on the balcony. There was some interest in news these days... mostly because she might appear on them. Or at least... her job would. Oh, there it was. Tasha expected her phone to explode today.
"In several days, the Astorian Space Service will not just test their new FTL engine, but send forth our first exploratory vessel. The A.E.S. Genesis is set to depart in five days. Under the command of Chief Scientist Tasha Collins, the vessel will open new horizons. Once discoveries come through, further vessels are expected to go forward for exploitation and possibly... colonization. Spirits seem to be high about the matter.."
"Finally we can answer those concerns about running out of room on the planet. New Astoria's gotten a bit small for us. I hope they can find a world we can live on... or some sexy aliens."
Any excitement in her was gone already. They knew for months, they'd been training for months. These were the last days of enjoying "civilization" before it was years of being stuck in a ship with not as great food service. Today she might get some ramen.
But there was a bit of contemplation as the scientist looked out the window to consider the enormity of the actions they would do. Assuming they found another planet, another species... and who knows what else... their civilization would fundamentally change. Some said that about being able to much more casually go around the system with the first gravitic engines, the ones capable of sub-light speeds, but still immense ones. No other planet in the Outsider system was fit for colonization, but they had more resources to work with, and a bit more space to live in as the station orbiting the sun was turning into a second urban center.
