00121





An hour earlier...

Hope Leader Xavier Bright and Security Leader Mita Morgan sat at the Hope Leader's desk in his inner office, inspecting a few random blasters taken from a very large box setting on the floor. Civilian Defense Group Leader Sheila Bright stood at ease, in her CDG uniform, by the box, waiting.

Ldr. Bright nodded approvingly. He turned to his niece. "And there are twelve more boxes at the Security Agency Building?"

"Yes, Sir," she answered formally.

"These look good. I want you to see that those CDG volunteers who are still unarmed receive a weapon."

"Okay, Uncle-" She forgot herself. When in uniform, she tried to be professional. "Yes, Sir." She put the blasters which had been checked back into the box and picked up the box of blasters. Despite its load, the box was not heavy; the blasters were lightweight for their appearance. "I will have Drummond distribute them."

"Very good," Ldr. Bright agreed.

After Sheila Bright exited with the box, Ldr. Bright let out a sigh. "I think we shall soon have more than enough trouble, and these blasters in the hands of the CDG may yet prove more useful than I actually expect."

"You mean as a contingency, in case the CDG Force will need to be more than just a distraction?"

"Since both I and the Leaders of Earth are jamming each others' interplanetary communications, and our spies cannot call us, there is therefore no need to keep up the charade of letting Earth think our CDG volunteers will be our main fighters to meet them, when Earth comes to invade us. But we must ready the CDG volunteers anyway, just in case we actually do need to use them in the war. And it may come to that, if Earth comes too early, before all is ready. I cannot expect that holding Osmo Martin hostage and threatening his life will be stall their inevitable attack forever."

"Ldr. Bright, we are far along with our preparations," Mita Morgan reminded him. "The rods are almost assembled and calibrated. They just need to be erected in their places. The new power fuel batteries which have been developed should give the rods enough energy to continue uninterrupted for days, if need be."

"Excellent. Our oxygen recycling program will allow us to continue for a long time once we turn them on, should we need a long time to keep the rods activated." Xavier Bright still did not smile or relax, despite their progress. He took new reports in hand and studied them.

Ldr. Bright's communicator device buzzed him urgently. He quickly answered. "Yes?" He kept a poker face, but his blazing eyes betrayed his emotions. "I see. I see. Yes." He put away the commications unit.

Now the Hope Leader frowned. "I am surprised that Gunther Martin's influence with the Committee and the Council has already worn to an end. The debating about sending the Earth military and endangering osmo is now over."

Surprised also, Mita Morgan asked, "They are here?"

"Beta Moonbase confirmed over the emergency channel that three military rockets just came out the wormhole. I expect the space mine field shall only stop one of the three rockets. After that, the other two will become aware of the danger, and the survivors will manage to open a way through my little greeting to our mine field in space."

Mrs. Kline buzzed the World of Hope Leader, to let him know his niece was back in the Leader's House, in the outer office. He had Mrs. Kline send her in.

Ldr. Bright told his niece, "It is now the time we have prepared for, Sheila. The war has started. Despite my threats against the life of Osmo Martin, Earth has now sent three Army rockets through the wormhole."

In her excitement and distress over the news, Sheila once more forgot formalities. "What shall we do, Uncle? We cannot let them take over our world, the world which you have made into what it is today."

"As you know, I do not intend to allow that, CDG Leader Bright. Contact all CDG Squad Heads and all Security Agent Team Heads, and tell them to spread the word immediately, as fast as they can, to be ready for a momentous message. I shall instruct the Administration News Department to do likewise over their network. In ten minutes, I shall speak to the public. My message shall be carried on every screen, public, private, and personal. It shall be a very important broadcast. The most important yet for the World of Hope. Sec. Ldr. Morgan, also contact the Warden at the mines. They, too, my loyal miners, should hear this. Warden Ung is to pipe my message through the miners' PA system. It is a rare day, when the miners' inspirational digging music is interrupted for more than a few short announcements. This is much bigger. Meet me at the flagpole in ten minutes."

"Yes, Sir." The two women turned and headed out the door at a trot.

Ldr. Bright called to Mita Morgan. "One moment, please."

She stopped to see what he wanted. "Yes, Ldr. Bright?"

"Sec. Ldr. Morgan, I want you to tell Struber and his gang of Hopers of the Earth military's arrival. He will understand. The time we discussed has come. Those tourists which he would not allow to leave the World of Hope have made an uneasy place for themselves in the rocketport lounge durfing their involuntary protracted stay at the port. Now Struber shall corral them like cattle onto the landing fields. Any Earth Army rockets that make it past our defenses in space will find there is no convenient place for them to set down on in Sparkle City. They will need to go elsewhere, probably to the wilds a few miles outside. The new rods' protection will not extend to the rocketport. Nevertheless, do not situate Struber and the tourists further back into the city. He must stay there right where he is, and do his part. I will not allow the invaders to make a base so close to our homes!"


Sec. Ldr. Morgan gave Struber his orders on her Security Agency comm-unit as she went out Ldr.Bright's office. Next, she called the Security Agents' Team Heads per orders and assigned them the task of alerting the people of Sparkle City to the upcoming broadcast in ten minutes.


At the prescribed time, Ldr. Bright took his position before the flagpole. The flag of Earth flew high upon the pole toward the back of the Leader's House, flapping over the Leader's Grounds. Against a white field, a blue circle symbolized their motherworld, and the encircling stars denoted the Earth Leaders.

Sec. Ldr. Morgan and CDG Leader Bright stood with Hope Ldr. Bright. The news agents aimed their focus upon him. Many citizens had been hastily rounded up to attend this most important announcement.

Ldr. Xavier Bright began by pointing to the flagpole behind him. "Watch. What you are about to see is a visual lesson you will remember and tell to your children and your grandchildren in years to come."

Former Security Agent Samm lowered the Earth flag down the pole. He took it off and handed it respectfully to Ldr. Bright.

"Thank you. Now pay attention, citizens of the World of Hope." So saying, he took the Earth flag and threw it onto the ground.

A few of the News people gasped in shock.

"Mr. Samm, if you would do the honors?"

"My pleasure, Ldr. Bright." Samm took out a lighter and lit the Earth flag. It caught fire and burned.

A murmur of amazement came from the gathered people.

The News cameras turned to the flag, and then from the burning flag to Xavier Bright, to see his reaction. He faced each lens, determination and defiance written all over his face.

"Citizens of the World of Hope, only ten minutes ago three Earth Space Army rockets emerged from the wormhole into our space. Earth sent their Army in order to continue to keep us in servitude to the them, and to keep our world under their jurisdiction- our world, which we have strived and labored and struggled over, to make it what it is. The World of Hope has its faults. No one ever denied that fact. Diamonds have flaws. But Earth's desire to exploit us and treat us as their lackeys aggravates our difficulties. Well, now you see, by what I did to their flag, what I think of their impending attempt to keep us under their thumb."

Xavier Bright glanced down to the burnt and still smoldering flag on the lawn.

"So much for Earth and its tyranny. Those days are over. This turn of events should come as no shock to anyone, for during the last few weeks, the planet Earth and the World of Hope have become quite estranged from each other. At last our disagreements come to a head.

"We do not have long before the Invaders set foot upon our ground. Some obstacles have been put in their way, but certainly at least one rocket will get past those obstacles. Therefore, I say, spread the news, as fast as you can, to all you know, to those who may have missed this announcement. I have a few things to say, and very little time to say them. However, this is what I must say, and what you must tell any who have not heard-

"First- I now declare the World of Hope free and independent of Earth. From this day forward, we shall be our own rulers. We refuse to recognize Earth as our master!

"Second- Earth has committed an act of war against us when they sent those rockets full of soldiers. I, therefore, declare war on Earth!

"Third- It is up to us, to me and you, people of the World of Hope, to fight off the oppressors when they come! Use everything you can! If you don't have a blaster, use a stick! If Earth wants a fight, we will oblige them! Victory belongs to us!!

"And fourth- fix your eyes on the flagpole behind me."

The people turned their attention to where Hope Leader Bright had indicated. He stood at attention, as did Sec. Ldr. Morgan and CDG Leader Sheila Bright, while Mr. Samm raised a new flag, a flag showing an orb with two satellite moons and a yellow sun in the distance on a purple field.

When the flag reached the zenith, Ldr. Bright saluted it. He turned back to face the News Agents and the small crowd of spectators. "Citizens, I present our new flag, symbol of our new, free World of Hope!"

Some Hopers, planted in with the citizen spectators, clapped and cheered for Ldr. Xavier Bright's message. Sec. Ldr. Morgan and CDG Ldr. Bright stood and saluted the flag. Soon, the other spectator citizens also applauded or saluted, and then the News folks joined in.

Xavier Bright stood there for a long minute, listening, smiling. Then, he raised his hands for quiet, because he wanted to speak again. "All able-bodied people, report immediately to your nearest CDG Center, to find where best you can be positioned so as to best be able to do your part to repel the Invaders. I have no more to say, for now is not the time to talk, but the time to act, to fight for the World of Hope! Fight for the future of your world- of our world! THE WORLD OF HOPE!!!You are dismissed!"

And so, the spectators and the News crews scrambled about. The News people rushed back to the city proper, to cover the reactions of the citizens, and the other spectators rushed back to town to find their places in the upcoming battle. And then there were some Newspeople who rushed back to town to quickly join the CDG force, to do their own part in the war.

Ldr. Bright checked his personal screen to read updates on how well his defenses in space worked. Sheila and Mita Morgan remained at his side, awaiting instructions. The Hope Leader's face darkened as he read.

"The laser cannon at Beta Moonbase blew up in their faces after their second shot. The cannon on Alpha Moonbase never fired. And somehow the minions of Earth learned of our hidden orbital mines, for the lead rocket stopped just before they reached the mines- And then, that is all the news I have. It seems that the moonbases are now under attack. I do not expect the soldiers and staff to be able to hold out very long against the larger numbers from Earth. A minor setback."

Clearly annoyed, he put away the small screen. He told Sheila, "Sec. Ldr. Morgan and I must oversee the final plans. We shall be very busy these next few hours. You are included in those plans, Sheila. You shall later meet us halfway down the hill, where I wish to oversee the progress of setting up an important part of our city's defenses. But first, before you join us, I have an assignment for you, my niece. A difficult one. A very difficult one."

She paled. "Yes, Uncle?"

"I think you already know what it is."

She looked down at the ground. "Yes, Uncle, I do know."

Xavier Bright continued. "I know it is much to ask of you. It is not something any of us wish to see done, but it is something that must be done. If I do not carry out my threat, no one will respect me after our victory. I will not respect me."

Sheila spoke in barely audible tones. "I understand, Uncle..."

"Sheila, look up. Look at me. Look in my eyes. I want to know, Can you do it? Can you carry out this assignment and kill our hostage?"

She stared up into his face. Trying to hide the lump in her throat, trying to fight tears that wanted to fall from her eyes, she nodded weakly. "I can do it!"

He smiled a pleasureless smile. "Yes, of course you can. You are my niece. I have instilled my values in you. You are a Bright. You have an inner strength just like Selina, my sister, your mother, to do what needs to be done."

Mita Morgan watched Sheila's quivering nod. Concerned, Mita asked Sheila, "Are you sure you can handle this, Sheila? Let me know if you are unable. If you cannot, I can send a Security Agent, or Mr. Samm, to do it."

Determination set into Sheila's face. She shook her head. "No, Sec. Ldr. Morgan, you will not! Ldr. Bright has assigned the task to me! It is my responsibility! All of us will have to be hard as rock to make hard choices before this day is over. I won't shirk my duty the minute the war begins. I will- execute Osmo Martin!"

Ldr. Xavier Bright studied her face. He squeezed her shoulder affectionately. "Yes, I believe you, CDG Ldr. Bright. Go now, do as you are told, make your world proud of you and of your service."

Sheila Bright turned away from them. She unholstered her blaster, a coldness in her eyes,  and she marched resolutely across the lawn toward the Security Agency Building, where Osmo sat in a cell wondering when they were going to feed him.


Above the small world, on the command bridge of the Scorpion Leader, General Schnell was pleased to see the other two Scorpion rockets had joined him from their missions on the moons, and he was also pleased to see a wide enough path was almost cleared through the belt of the orbiting, hidden mines.

(c) drk 2012