01 - Payback is a Bitch

Italic text==Payback is a Bitch==

The Kurtherian Endgame begins with Bethany Anne and Michael deciding to definitely live on High Tortuga, and that decision leading to her attempts to make the planet a better place in which to live. It is a smaller, on-the-outskirts type of planet, far enough away from Federation activities that she would not be interfering, and close enough in to the center of the Galaxy's doings that she could take an active part if needed. The major events in this book concert an interplanetary company, KGB, and their illegal activities. KGB tries to stop Bethany Anne's maneuvers in many ways, first attacking her Base, then starting an anti-BA campaign to ruin her at the polls, then, trying to ruin her through disrupting all of the banking on the planet, as well as a few other things, ending, of course, in major battles. Bethany and Michael become parents, Addix becomes a much more active spy, Ricole joins the teams, and TOM and Bethany Anne have a talk, but TOM still has not revealed his big secret.

Chapter One - Payback Is a Bitch Bethany Anne, Michael, Barnabas, Stephen, Akio, TIM and ADAM meet ti start work on the MPPS project (Motherfucking Practical Political System), an advanced but practical form of government she would transplant (if they could accomplish the mechanics) to her home planet of Earth (Centuries in the future). Barnabas to work on details of the legal system (preferential treatment/friends/relatives, mental health issues, other matters of law). Michael offered issues of core concerns – food, water, clothing, shelter, then education and opportunity available, provide for defense and potentially offense, engage in trade, make communication planet-wide, build infrastructure such as energy and transportation, permit them to travel, and maybe start an entertainment industry.” Stephen felt that you will have to look at beings’ core personality types and structure a society that offers each hope and responsibilities.” Adam suggested that they were being a science-fiction think tank, like the US Military used. Adam also suggested, when asked by Bethany Anne, that the cornerstone of the effort was education and recognition that people take responsibility for themselves, and often for others.” A totalitarian level of government was often tried in my corner of the world as well as others. It is easy enough to implement if your side is the scariest, but often the reasons the populace is scared are not acceptable, and eventually the government will be overthrown. If not by their own people, then by the countries around them.” The real issue,” ADAM suggested, “is the rebels.” “The freethinkers. The iconoclasts. Those who wish to push boundaries because their minds are wired differently.”( Barnabas) And minds are the one area we cannot just fix (Tim). After much discussion, and a review of what had happened on Earth, Bethany Anne said,” We were in the middle of it.” She squared her shoulders. “Even more of a reason to figure out how to crack this fucking nut related to a government that is by the people and for the people and yet handles those who need to stretch their wings by giving them room to fly.” She looked around the table. “Not by clipping them.”

AZ, Uleq, and Imon, the three officers of KGB company, are trying to solve problem of moving products, both legitimate and illegitimate, on and off of Devon (High Tortuga). Baba Yaga has monopolized almost all of the transport companies, making it impossible for them to move their goods without losing money. Ships cannot land without permission. They were going to have to do something about that.

Chapter Two Michael, in his new office eight stories underground, requested that his screen “Play scene of the surface of High Tortuga, random”, it did, and he was entertained by a real-time view of the Y’ehntel Jungle on the South Continent. Was enjoying watching a snake, when Tabitha came in. Both jumped when a huge foot came down and crushed the snake. Picture was enlarged, looked like a huge dinosaur, and Tabitha knew that Michael was going to hunt it.

Chapter Three Bethany Anne and Michael in a discussion about whether the unborn child should incubate in a pod, or she should carry it naturally. (At which point nausea took over). Tim denied having anything to do with that, as he was unfamiliar with what her body was doing at this time. Michael comforted her, and changed the subject, questioning her on how order was kept, where the videos went, what was being done to ameliorate violence, etc..Part of her MPPS project, to provide opportunities to work, learn, improve. Changed the subject again- Bethany Anne should record, annotate, etc., everything she does with this project, , so others can follow in her steps and take over on when they haveto leave, fight Kurtherians, etc. “So, what do you think about creating a nice central area, designed like the Pit back on Earth? Bottom level with a table and one wall of screens, but four or five levels of work desks around an oval or circle. We can pipe all the security reports in. You’d have a single place to work out the kinks with the security implementation, and to organize and authorize further efforts. You will need a good team back here, and for that to run efficiently you need to train them. Record everything you do to video. Permit discussions about your efforts and modify the laws as needed.” She started thinking about that, and Michael turned on his tablet again. Wanted to find that dinosaur. Bethany Anne talks to ADAM, starts to plan area suggested by Michael (a babysitter for her!) What I am suggesting is a place where you can operate for now. Handle the issues from around the planet, and yet you’ll be safe. Eventually, it will be the central area to support High Tortuga when we leave the planet, and those who’ve worked in there will already be trained.” Extends thinking, planning, use of AI,s EIs, everything to make the planet run. Called it CEREBRO (Central Entity for Relationships…. …Exploration, and Biofeedback-Reporting Operations.”

Chapter Four Ricole, a Noel-Ni, (was lightning-fast reflexes and the ability to take a finger off with her teeth) was trapped by Bracht, a gang leader who wanted her to join his gang. She had refused. Wasn’t stupid. Suddenly, a voice sounded, ordering him to “cease to threaten Citizen Ricole immediately, or I will take steps to force you to do as I require.” Baba Yaga warned them, and when they tried to wreck her orb, John killed three of them, Ricole escaping down the tunnels, to investigate the public court system. Bethany Anne in the Pit. Listening to a meeting of businessmen, discussing future anticipated policies of Baba Yaga. Notice of an attack on the planet is received.

Chapter Five - Attack on the Base Michael joined John Grimes, Eric Escobar, Scott English and Darryl Jackson. Michael had rescued and brought Demon, an enhanced mountain lion, from Earth with him and she was going on this mission with them. Saw fourteen trucks advancing on Base (The eight missiles in the back of each transport gave them a hundred and twelve ways to make this evening a significant downer to those who were at the coordinates). These armored vehicles had been modified to fire two missiles at a time, one from each side. When the missile was fired the antigrav engine became a catapult, launching it into the air before its chemical ignition system kicked in. They would fire from a distance to allow the kinetic energy to increase before the heavy missiles hit their intended targets. Each missile had a small mass-to-energy-conversion tip which would further enhance the headaches for those at the base. Some idiots in the back had fired prematurely, throwing Michael et al against rocks behind them. Tabitha, Peter, Akio, Ryu and several others were in Black Eagles, screaming into the atmosphere to lie in wait for the air vehicles which couldn’t find the base. Disguised? Bad coordinates?). Tabitha, seeing ground crew seemingly attacked, began air attack on ships, from above, one of them falling directly on Michael’s HUD icon.

Chapter Six Michael OK. KGB company meet to discuss their failed attack. Baba Yaga doing well in benefiting general population, so no uprisings. Had been careless in not noticing her incursions into Devon, as had been busy with another project (Gauger hostile takeover. There was always another path to slavery. You could use the tax system). Why was Baba Yaga doing this? Profit? Military? If she is not allied with one of the major powers we take over of her infrastructure and own the planet outright. Here's what we plan to do related to banking and infrastructure.

Bethany Anne cajoles Lerr’eck, “How would you like to leave business behind and work on an anti-gang-warfare project? You take care of this gang and these males and I reduce your sentence from ten years to time served? I want you to train them to support the local area. Right now we need a group that is fighting with the support of Baba Yaga. You have the smarts and the military background to help accomplish this.” Lerr’ek went to confront Cr’ehg and his gang members, with a hologram of a message from Baba Yaga to them.

Chapter Seven Attack on the Banks Begins Ricole going to Library in Thon, now with weapons at all times. Bethany Anne decides to go talk with her, Michael invited himself along. Ricole looking at new laws and job board. Needed two hour evaluation to apply. Before the end of the session, Baba Yaga and Michael had “interviewed” her, and offered her a place on one of their teams. She accepted, and started to train. ADAM notifies Bethany Anne that he had found discrepancies in the bank data I have reviewed. The books are being cooked, as it were. Random, by definition, is random. When you find the randomness to be distinctly non-random across the banks, that is enemy effort. Thirty-two major banks, seventeen minor banks, three local banks. All seven major cities, thirty-two percent of the minor cities, and fourteen percent of the twins. The breakout has to do with the existing banks with problems and how they have spread out into the local markets. The mistakes in their books are not benefiting anyone. In fact, you could say that they are hurting all parties. Something wasn’t right. She needed to speak to someone devious. She called Addix.

Chapter Eight Consults with Addix about banking problem. In the past when I wanted to find someone I would look at the data and then do something I’ve always called ‘following the money.’ It’s a phrase that has always meant, ‘see who gets the benefit.’ However, it has also meant following the money’s trail, for the most part. ADAM has figured out that someone is messing with the banking system here on High Tortuga with software which will make a bunch of money go poof. It won’t go anywhere. All of the money is going to disappear.” “They are trying to foment fear of the banking industry,” Addix finally concluded. “The military attack didn’t work, so they are trying to undermine your authority. “I would also bet that the accounts they are trying to delete are those they can associate with your stick ownership. It will hit when the system has eighty-two percent penetration amongst all banks, in approximately seven days and fourteen hours.” “Who should I use for this?” “Get with Stephen if you need him. Otherwise, whoever you want.” Sabine, Mark Jacqueline and Ricole were being prepped as an operations group.” Sabine hung around with Demon, so smelled different from the rest of the humans.

Chapter Nine Publicity Attacks Begin Eve reports to Bethany Anne about seeing editorials, inserts, and occasionally ads stewing over Baba Yaga’s heavy-handed approach to ‘taking over our planet.’” Addix confirmed that she was familiar with a few of the individuals from another project, but the trail left the planet.” It seems we have interrupted someone's party here on High Tortuga. After the military attack, and the banking attack, there was now a war for the minds of the citizens. Did they get a local to push their agenda?" For those they use a political action committee equivalent here on the planet. I have tracked the responses and the money, and once again it was funded by an off-world entity. Lerre’ek is trying to convince a group of Bank presidents, headed by Beeg, to do something about the banking situation about to occur. The first part had been easy: give them the proof and allow them to have their people confirm the problem. Now that they knew the truth, they wanted to place the blame on someone besides their ineffective leadership. Which would be all fine and good if Lerr’ek had been the one to perpetrate the attack. Beeg asked to speak to the special person himself, and he did. ADAM spoke, inside his head, as one AI to another. Beeg was shown what was happening, and would happen to all of the banks, and, when re-activated, told them everyone's job here is to find out how to secure your electronic infrastructure to the best of your ability. Further security issues will be revealed to you for upgrade in the near future. We allowed the security to become lax, so we are responsible for fixing it.”

Chapter Ten Full-scale Battle Attacks Planned, Begin Az looks at what has been happening on High Tortuga, decides to unleash the full power he had built up over thirty years. We’ve got three ships arriving from different headings.” Inform interdiction ships 12, 15 and…18 that they are to move forward.” Tabitha and Hirotoshi, on /ship 18, bored, when alarm sound comes in. Tabitha addresses the Lerrith Qualgoth Keepto. “This is Tabitha, captain of Trade and Contraband Vessel 18. You are requested to prepare for boarding. We must confirm that you are carrying no slaves or illegal trade goods before you will be allowed to proceed. We could send a missile into you and then board you, but either way, we are going to check your ship out. We will be alongside in…” A solid CLUNK reverberated through Gorath’s ship.

Bethany Anne gets a report from William that the defensive rings around High Tortuga are twenty percent below optimum, and that’s in only one layer of coverage. Bethany Anne gets all of her people working on the problem, with a game. “Get with the ships’ EIs and create a mobile game app that utilizes everything from a hundred and fifty percent BYPS satellites down to fifty percent on the most difficult setting. Tell ArchAngel to set up multiple scenarios, everything from killer asteroids to waves of spaceships to small pirate attacks. Level one is the easiest, with all the BYPSs in play and simple scenarios. Next level is five percent fewer satellites. Keep increasing difficulty until we have people winning with eighty percent or less Make sure ArchAngel is informed if someone beats a level because the game wasn’t real enough, then update the game and keep going. Tell everyone that whoever wins at sixty percent in ‘god mode’ will be given a prize of ten thousand credits and a party for their friends in space. No one could win at sixty percent, BA.” William retorted. “Then I guess we won’t pay out. However, once we know the game works here with our folks who play games, release it to the public as a Baba Yaga Production.” William tells Bethany Anne that Michael’s BBQ pit will be ready in a couple of months. Taking longer because of size (100 sq. ft. of cooking space. Almost fifteen thousand square inches of meat-grilling surface. Building it in a new room to be built near the kitchens, with special chimneys for heat and smoke dissipation so it can’t be seen from above.” so nowhere near our quarters?” “Nope.”

Chapter Eleven Tabitha and Hirotoshi armor themselves, step over to Lerrith Qualgoth Keepto ( Kiss My Ass, translated), knock on outer airlock door, opens, admitting them to inner air lock, are met by a group of Shrillexians, who were waiting to fight them. And Hirotoshi wasn’t looking forward to that, as Shrillexians were tall, muscled, and fast, and worse, they healed a lot faster than he did. Fighting one Shrillexian was the same as fighting three of anything else. Tabitha and Hirotoshi whip the Shrillexians, Tabitha finishing off the last one while Hirotoshi goes for the Captain. Has to break down door to bridge, injuring a crew member. Second Queens Guardian ship arrives (Peter), takes control, while Tabitha and Captain Gorath go to talk to Addix.

Chapter Twelve Publicity Attacks Continue Bethany Anne talks to Eve re the press problems. Eve is spending four hours/day responding, is handling it. I want them to start asking whether these objections truly come from a local source or someone else.” Before you implement a rebuttal I want you to speak with me, ok? What about the elections? “The candidates who are either pro-Baba Yaga or agree with Baba Yaga’s ideas are winning eighty-seven percent of the elections. Five percent we are losing because of an on-world disagreement, and eight percent are apparently listening to the off-world hype. If I kill free will it isn’t much of a win. I’m not being easy on them right now, but part of that is because it isn’t an easy situation. No one handed me a pretty present. This is High Tortuga and life can be rough, so I’m rough right back.” Constructing the EI Building, High Tortuga (See Locations-EI Building)

Bethany Anne and Michael: TOM trying to keep her on an even keel, because of the pregnancy. Have you noticed that even Michael stays away at times? >>I haven’t done any long-term associative heuristics on Michael yet, so I wouldn’t know.<< He has noted that she both likes him around and is easily annoyed at his presence, so he limits direct contact to mornings, lunch, and evenings. >>I have noticed that she requests updates on him all the time.<< She is working through a lot of issues associated with him being back. I think he is allowing her time to adjust to his presence. She crawls over in bed and hugs him at night, and his touch soothes her when she is sleeping. Her conscious mind is not so happy with him and the constraints it sees.

Chapter Thirteen MPPS Project Everyone had forgotten to provide for long-term military incarceration on High Tortuga. Lerr’ek’s fault. He admitted it. Discuss housing on ships, on ArchAngel II. Many types or rooms, - large area, smaller cells, suicide watch cells, rooms for higher dignitaries, etc. Stephen and Lerr’ek to handle. Present at meeting in The Pit in two days. Uleq and Imon review their plans for Devon. Banking and Publicity going so badly, they don’t even want to call them plans. Meeting with Az to set new goals. The Meeting: Wants to discuss the MPPS project, Earth. Will have enough land (85% of population gone). Can make building from sand (Anteries 197). Design? Larger, smaller, Hex structure inside, generations living together, Criminals? (jails, Australia? We have many of the castoffs; the unwanted and the unsupported. This planet is a melting pot of opportunity), need to support those in the present to achieve greatness. Work or do something incredibly stupid, so need Police. We, however, need to be sure we have enough resources for everyone on the planet. If we offer jobs to everyone, we can’t have restrictions on food, clothing, shelter, or any other basic necessities or we give those who would like to undermine the system an opportunity to argue against it.”

Chapter Fourteen Bethany Anne and Michael Michael want a discussion with Bethany Anne. “So,” Michael held her tight, “you are saying you are emotional, perhaps unrealistically so due to chemical imbalances while your body is trying to create a new human being.” “I’m sorry.” He started to object, but Bethany Anne put her fingers over his lips. “Don’t go there. Just accept my apology and let me know why you thought we should talk.” “I was wondering if you had thought of any names yet?” Many come up, and Bethany Anne wonders if there had been any “Ava” girls in his past. No, celibate for over 1000 years. Very old-fashioned, and you know what they say about old-fashioned dads when their daughters date. Well, there aren’t any fathers more old-fashioned than me, Bethany Anne.” Ricole, hade become friends with Mark, Jacqueline and Sabine, each unique in their own way. Eve asks Ricole for an interview re the security she had met in the tunnels before she was recruited. Did so, and as they finished, Ricole’s ship got a call to action, Ricole’s lips peel back, her sharp teeth shining as their ship’s engines kicked in and they headed out to meet their first set of possible pirates. (Ship un-named).

Chapter Fifteen, Sixteen Battles Begin 15 EIs handled flights. Humans along for the ride. ArchAngel handling ship. ArchAngel pulls alongside, connects. Pirates plan to steal her as Captain talks to them. Jacqueline and Mark start fighting as soon as they board the other ship. Ch’urn challenges Jacqueline to one-on-one fight. She accepts. After a few minutes of fighting, Jacqueline changes to Pricolici form, fights Ch’urn, but didn’t use claws. (Peter’s comment about, “We can get intelligence out of living pirates. If you bring me dead ones we can’t get shit!” still rang in her ears.) Jacqueline finishes off fight, dislocating Ch’urns arm, knocking him out. Goes to Bridge to check on Mark, leaving Sabine and Ricole guarding the other pirates. Bethany Anne, in her quest to understand the Etheric Dimension, how she might better take people with her from a distance, and how she might better use it to provide options for the those left on the planet, asks TOM for guidance. “ I don’t think I can do that without understanding the Etheric better. I have to practice, and to practice I have to understand the basics.” TOM does not believe that, up to the present, she has done anything that will have injured her unborn child. Tom reassures her There is no way for me to know if what you are trying to do will hurt your child, but I won’t allow you to run any more risk than you already do in your normal Etheric efforts. TOM sounded reverent when he spoke of the Etheric, something unusual to Bethany Anne. And he begins to explain … (See Locations, Etheric Dimension).

Chapter Seventeen Fleet Is Being Formed Addix reports that rumors have it that a fleet is being formed – Merc with Navy fighting skills. We might have a fleet visiting us in the near future, still recruiting, so possibly in a few weeks. ADAM call Admiral Thomas(Military) to meet with Bethany Anne that afternoon, along with Stephen (business interests) , Michael( accumulated experience), Addix ( provide knowledge)and Peter (wild youth). Az (KGB Corp), reviewing some actions, moved missiles from Warehouse 19 to another planet. It would be about a week before they would be available. Bethany Anne, in a MPPS meeting, the structure of the best educational system possible, so that all would learn, feel rewarded if successful, contribute. (Extensive discussion – four and one-half pages. Please read in book)

Chapter Eighteen Bank being robbed (one of Bethany Anne’s), will send in team to take care of it. Local police keep area clear, so no one hurt. Guardians Watson Stuart and Jesse Verette will drop from top, handle it. Killed all robbers. Watson to try to get police let him know what was in the safety deposit box they so badly wanted. Bethany Anne notified of missile warehouse theft, Leath Punchers, (space-platform-based missiles that are pre-programmed to hit hardened locations on planets. Get into a system, fire them off, and either follow them in or leave. If the planet has weapons systems, there is a chance of knocking them out of space or air) so will need a superdreadnought to protect planet. BYPS system will be in place, but not by time of attack. Addix to track down who and where(warehouse attack) so Bethany Anne can bring pain to them. Bethany Anne, Admiral Thomas, Stephen, Peter, Jean and John Grimes, discussing MPPS, Defense. How do we create a society which supports individual freedom from antagonism, which by definition means the society deplores violence, and yet create a military. Cannot do it by eliminating the violence gene, DNA manipulation.

Chapter Nineteen Addix Becomes Active as a Fighter Addix, and Lady Princess. Could bypass commercial Gates (special Gate engines required). Addix had Jean Dukes pistols, designed specially for an Ixtali. Only ones in existence. Wore a robe which successfully hid armor. Liked the black widow spiders on Earth, and likened herself to them, being arachnid in heritage. Went to Goptek System to investigate Warehouse 19, found two workers who she could ply with drink, learn spy things. Did so, leaving them in bar, coming out with three Shrillexians tailing her. She climbed a wall in an alley, waited until the three had followed her in, dropped on them, knives in hand. Bethany Anne and Michael talking in suite, Michael tells her, upon questioning, that he is planning to hunt a fifty foot dinosaur, and BBQ its meat (shouldn’t waste anything). Suddenly, Bethany Anne in pain, going into labor as fleet of fifty-four ships attack High Tortuga.